Ed Davey denies Lib Dems main opposition to new houses

Liberal Democrat chief Sir Ed Davey has denied his celebration is main efforts to oppose new houses being constructed.

In an interview with the BBC’s Nick Robinson, Sir Ed was challenged with examples the place Lib Dem councillors or MPs had argued towards housebuilding plans of their areas.

In response, he gave his personal examples of the place he stated the celebration was constructing extra houses or being criticised for constructing too many.

The Lib Dem chief stated he supported a “community-led strategy”, the place extra reasonably priced houses have been in-built the precise locations, alongside infrastructure like colleges, GP surgical procedures and transport.

He argued the present planning system was not constructing the houses the nation wanted and was “doing it to the builders tune”.

It was put to Sir Ed that Lib Dem-run councils had opposed plans to build more than 3,000 new homes on an airfield in Oxfordshire, whereas he had described proposals to construct 1000’s of houses in Surrey close to his constituency as “eye-watering” numbers.

Sir Ed instructed the BBC he didn’t find out about particular person examples.

Nevertheless, he provided his personal “counter-examples”, together with Kingston, south-west London, the place he stated the Lib-Dem run authority had the most important council housebuilding programme in 40 years.

Sir Ed is standing once more to be MP for Kingston and Surbiton and his spouse is portfolio holder for housing on the native council.

He added that Lib Dem councillors in Cambridgeshire have been being criticised by native Conservatives for constructing too many homes.

Challenged over whether or not Lib Dems typically lead the opposition to new houses being constructed, Sir Ed stated: “What you’ve stated is incorrect and I may give you counter-examples.”

In a wide-ranging interview, Sir Ed was additionally pressed over his celebration’s place on Brexit.

Within the 2019 common election, the Lib Dems stood on a platform to “cease Brexit” and noticed its variety of MPs fall to 11.

Nevertheless, the difficulty has not featured prominently within the present marketing campaign.

The celebration’s manifesto, which units out what it might do if it wins the election, guarantees to “repair the UK’s damaged relationship with Europe”.

It additionally says the celebration would search to rejoin the only market, which permits items, providers and other people to maneuver freely between member states, with EU membership its “longer-term goal”.

Sir Ed was requested if the worth of entry to the EU market can be free motion of individuals.

“I do not assume the only market with free motion of labour goes to occur within the subsequent Parliament,” he stated.

“What I do assume goes to occur is an effective commerce deal, definitely if the Liberal Democrats had our method.”

He insisted there was “a commerce deal available which is wanting the only market” however would additionally “tear up a number of the pink tape” and further prices going through companies.

The Lib Dem manifesto additionally guarantees to barter a Youth Mobility Scheme with the bloc, permitting Britons aged 18-35 to reside and work in EU nations for as much as three years and vice versa.

Pressed over whether or not this gave the message that accepting extra European employees coming to the UK was a worth he was keen to pay to enhance relations with the EU, Sir Ed stated: “I believe immigration wants to come back down.”

He identified the UK already has a Youth Mobility Scheme with nations together with Korea, Japan and Australia.

Nevertheless, he burdened the variety of visas provided via any EU scheme can be capped so wouldn’t quantity to free motion of labour.

In the course of the interview, Sir Ed was additionally challenged over his report as a minister within the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition authorities between 2010 and 2015.

Requested why he had by no means criticised the austerity interval, when the federal government delivered large cuts in spending on public providers, Sir Ed admitted the celebration confronted “powerful selections”.

“I had a selection, as did each Liberal Democrat minister, did I keep there or did I am going?” he stated.

“I believe it may have been fairly straightforward to go, and criticise the federal government from the media studios, after which probably get re-elected, moderately than shedding my seat in 2015.

“I, as many different colleagues did, we rolled up our sleeves and tried to combat for the issues we fought for.”

He stated that in authorities the Lib Dems managed to restrict welfare cuts and forestall advantages and pensions being frozen.

Sir Ed added: “I’m not pleased with each resolution I needed to take, however my level is for those who wished to alter issues, you needed to roll up your sleeves and never give up.”

You will discover a full record of candidates for the Kingston and Surbiton constituency here.

The BBC has interviewed all the foremost celebration leaders within the run-up to the election in The Panorama Interviews with Nick Robinson. You may watch the interview with Sir Ed Davey at 19:30 on BBC One or BBC iPlayer.