CONSERVATIVES "ALL TALK AND NO ACTION" ON SECOND HOMES

2.57.48pm GMT Mon 11th Feb 2008

Stephen Gilbert, the Lib Dem Parliamentary candidate for St Austell & Newquay, has accused the Conservatives of being "all talk and no action" on the housing crisis.

His comments come after Conservative MPs did not speak or vote in a recent House of Commons debate on a motion that would pave the way for local Council's to work with Government to control the numbers of second homes in an area.

Stephen Gilbert said: "The Conservatives talk a good talk on the housing crisis but when presented with an opportunity to do something about it their MPs just sat on their hands with their mouths shut. Frankly I find it amazing that on an issue as important to Cornwall as the housing crisis, the Conservatives think the best approach is to say and do nothing."

He added: "There are 14,427 second homes in Cornwall while over 19,000 people are waiting for their first home. It's clear that second home ownership is a major part of the problem, distorting the local market and damaging our communities."

ENDS

Notes:

Dan Rogerson MP (Liberal Democrat, North Cornwall) proposed a new section for the Government's Planning Bill, which would have allowed local authorities to demand new powers to control the number of second homes in their area. Conservative MPs refused to comment on the proposals and declined to support them when Mr Rogerson moved a House of Commons vote. The Government used its majority to vote down the proposal while the Minister responding, Parmjit Dhanda, called first and second homes 'indistinguishable' and dismissed the move as 'irrelevant'.