Angela Rayner is reportedly expected to miss Labour’s target of building 1.5 million homes, raising questions over whether the Government can deliver one of its central housing pledges. Missing the target could prolong shortages of affordable housing and weaken efforts to improve access to home ownership and rental homes.

The article’s headline attributes the forecast to Rayner, Labour’s housing secretary, but the supplied text does not provide the underlying estimates, timeframe or reasons for the expected shortfall. Labour’s stated ambition is to increase housebuilding substantially, with delivery dependent on planning reform, construction capacity and local authority cooperation.