MICHAEL Gove today vowed he'll never screw over young people to appease NIMBY MPs.
In an interview with The Sun, the Levelling Up Secretary insisted he's categorically pro-house building - but only where developments are high quality and beautiful.
As the UK battles a crippling housing crisis, the minister pledged to youngsters that “I will never screw you over to appease NIMBY MPs”.
Mr Gove said: “My son is an 18-year-old Sun reader and he will be reading the paper today and holding me to this pledge."
It comes as battle lines have been drawn between Sir Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak over the dismal homes shortage blighting Britain.
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A child born this year has a less than one in three chance of owning a home by the time they're 50.
And across England average house prices are more than ten times the average salary, with vacancy rates plummeting below one per cent, according to the Centre for Cities.
Despite this, in December the PM gave the green light to scrapping town hall building targets.
In a major win for NIMBYs, centrally determined targets are now “advisory” only.
Pro-building Tories hit out at the move.
In a speech to the British Chamber of Commerce today, Sir Keir will vow to bring targets back.
“A generation and its hopes are being blocked by those who - more often than not - enjoy the secure homes and jobs that they’re denying to others,” the Labour leader will say.
“We choose the builders, not the blockers; the future, not the past; renewal not decline. We choose growth.”
Mr Gove stood by his decision, insisting a record number of homes have been built under the Tories.
He said his planning reforms will mean "more homes built, not fewer".
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And the Levelling Up Secretary blasted Labour's pledge to build up Britain.
“Sir Keir’s interest in housing is as cosmetic as Holly and Phil’s on air relationship,” he said.
“It’s totally skin deep.
"Sir Keir doesn’t understand the housing crisis, his experience has been, silence, opportunism and superficiality."
The Tory party has been bitterly divided on house building.
MPs including Theresa Villiers and Bob Seely have spoken out against rapid development as a solution to soaring property prices.
The Chipping Barnett MP in particular sparked fury after telling The Times too much building risks turning Britain into East Berlin.
Ex Cabinet Ministers including Simon Clarke and Brandon Lewis criticised the position, insisting more homes are essential to unleashing economic growth.
But Mr Gove refused to slap down his "friend" Ms Villiers.
He said he benefits from hearing her views, as well as Mr Clarke's.
"We are a big church and a big family and Theresa was very clear in the interview that we need to build more homes," Mr Gove said.
"When you’ve got a family people try to sometimes set brother against sister, but actually we are united in recognising the importance of helping the next generation enjoy the opportunities previous generations did to own their own home."
Mr Gove refused to bash Tory MPs who boast about blocking homes in their constituency on social media.
"I don’t think there’s anything wrong with sticking up for your local community, provided you take the approach that development of the right kind, which is high quality, is welcomed," he said.
The Levelling Up Secretary also told The Sun soaring migration is locking millions of Brits out of the housing market.
But he added that as net migration figures are set to soar to up to one million, the construction industry needs skilled labour from abroad.
When grilled on migration numbers, he said: "There are so many factors that are creating issues with affordability and we need to look at them all in the round.
"We need to have controlled migration and controlled is the word. In the building sector we do need to have some skilled people who will come to contribute.
"But we need to control the numbers overall. We need to stop the boats."
Boosting his housing credentials, Mr Gove today unveiled a fresh set of laws to help 11 million hard-up renters with “unscrupulous” landlords.
Hated no-fault evictions, where tenants are kicked out of rentals for no reason, will be banned.
And landlords will have to allow tenants to keep pets unless they have a reasonable excuse against it.
The Decent Homes Standard will apply to the private rented sector - not just social housing - for the first time.
And it will be illegal for landlords to impose bans on renting to tenants on benefits or with kids.
Housing campaigners hailed the long-awaited new laws last night.
Tom Darling, Campaign Manager at the Renters’ Reform Coalition said: “Everyone deserves to live in a home that is secure, decent and affordable.
"The abolition of Section 21 ought to give tenants assurances that they can stay in a property long term, and make it easier for them to demand improvements to poor quality homes and disrepair."
Mr Darling added: “We will fight any attempts to water down the bill, and campaign to amend the legislation so that renters get a four-month notice period when they are forced to move; are protected from eviction for two years at the start of a tenancy; and to ensure there are sufficient safeguards against illegitimate evictions.
"We don’t want this opportunity to transform private renting to be missed.”
