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Gove insists 300,000 per year housing target remains

Next during today’s morning show, Trevor Phillips turns to the government’s housing plans, published today, to build on brownfield sites.

He asks Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove asks why the government dropped the 300,000 per year housebuilding target given the plummet in housebuilding.

Mr Gove says the government has not dropped the 300,000 per year target, saying it is a “misunderstanding” that the “ambition” has been dropped.

He goes on to say a million homes have been delivered over the course of this parliament, and 2.5 million since 2010.

“Of course we’ve got to do more,” he adds, but says we must “situate this debate in the context of the Conservatives having consistently delivered more homes than were delivered under Labour”.

Asked if the 300,000 target remains, he replies: “Yeah, absolutely, totally, 100%.”

He then accuses Labour of voting against measures to build many more homes last year.

Gove challenged on plummeting support among 25-49 year olds

Trevor Phillips shows Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove a graph showing support for the Tories among 25-49 year olds has plummeted in recent years (see below).

Trevor asks Mr Gove how he will feel looking back in 20 years knowing he will be the housing secretary that loses two generations for the Tories.

The long-serving cabinet minister replies that the “principal concern” is “about people’s faith in free markets and people’s support for our political system overall”.

“And that is why we have responsibility to do more to ensure people can have a warm, safe, decent home.”

Mr Gove says the government has done “significantly more than the government that preceded us”, but says it is not enough and more needs to be done.

Gove insists government ‘absolutely will’ get Rwanda flights off the ground

You may recall that Rishi Sunak got into some hot water for accepting a bet with Piers Morgan that the Rwanda scheme will start before the general election.

Trevor Phillips asks Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove if he would also take that bet, and he replies: “I don’t have that sort of money, Trevor.”

He adds that the government “absolutely will” get flights off the ground before the general election.

Asked whether he would make the bet with £100, Mr Gove said: “I would happily give you 100 quid, take you out for a very nice meal and spend that money on making sure that you are a happier man.”

Trevor replies: “This is a political programme, not a dating agency.”