Angela Rayner has been accused of “prolonging a two-tier planning system” over plans to remove powers from local councils to block illegal encampments.
Speaking to GB News, Shadow Business Secretary Andrew Griffith said the move by the Housing Secretary is “shocking”, warning of an “invasion of our green spaces”.
Ms Rayner unveiled her plans on Monday to soften planning rules and remove powers from local councils across England.
The changes would make it harder for both residents and councils to oppose applications for retrospective permission for illegal camps, such as traveller sites.
The new guidance removes requirements for councils to consider “potential environmental damage” and “provide a settled base that limits the need for long-distance travelling” when assessing applications.
Officials have warned that the new policy may also mean that “locations not well-related to existing settlements may be appropriate”.
Reacting to the move, Mr Griffith told GB News that it is both “shocking” and “unbelievable”.
He said: “It’s unbelievable that Angela Rayner wants to prolong a two-tier planning system.
Andrew Griffith has torn into Angela Rayner after softening powers on permission for illegal camps
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GB NEWS / PA
“There’s one set of planning rules for you and I, if you want to put on a small attic extension or change the look of your house, but other communities are allowed to invade green spaces, concrete over land illegally over the course of a weekend and flout planning regulations.”
The Tory MP stressed that the situation surrounding illegal sites across the UK is “already bad”, and this move by Ms Rayner is “seeking to make things worse”.
He said: “The situation is already bad, and it’s absolutely shocking that Angela Rayner is seeking to make that worse. Why would she want to do that?
“Why would she want to upset law-abiding communities, make councils look like fools because they can’t control what’s going on in their own local democracy?”
Housing Secretary Angela Rayner unveiled the changes on Monday
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PACriticising the Housing Secretary further, Mr Griffith declared that the move demonstrates that she “thinks she knows best” rather than local authorities.
He argued: “It’s the opposite of devolution, isn’t it?
“It’s about Angela Rayner thinking she knows best rather than local communities and local democratic authorities.”
Turning to the country’s welfare system, Mr Griffith was questioned on Reform UK’s plan to save £51billion by cutting benefits for those who “can and should be working”.
Mr Griffith told GB News that Angela Rayner ‘thinks she knows best’ rather than local authorities
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GB NEWS
Mr Griffith told GB News: “Well, I’m delighted that there’s a growing consensus on this. It’s something that Conservatives have been raising for a very long period of time.
“As an adherent of sound public finances, I am appalled by the way in which the welfare bill has burgeoned. So if that consensus makes it more likely that we get a Conservative-led government that will implement those and finally tackle this scourge on the public finances and get people back into work, then that is all very welcome, and I think your viewers will welcome that as well.”
In a statement, a Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government spokesman said: “The Government is cracking down on illegal traveller sites and it is completely misleading to suggest otherwise.
“Our new planning rules explicitly tackle any potential environmental damage and transport impacts, and make it harder for people to get retrospective permission for development that were built without approval.”