Andrew Griffith, the shadow chancellor, has used his Conservative Party conference speech to promise a radical shrinking of the state, claiming that slashing planning red tape could cut the cost of building a new house by £50,000. In an address designed to frame the Tories as the party of deregulation, he condemned what he called a «1970s socialist fever dream» and set out plans to scrap quangos, simplify the tax system and roll back net zero commitments.
The centrepiece of the speech was a pledge to abolish the Environment Agency and Natural England, bodies the Conservatives argue have become obstacles to housebuilding and infrastructure. Griffith said the planning system was a primary driver of high housing costs and that removing regulatory duplication would allow developers to build more quickly and cheaply. He also promised to cut net zero burdens on business, arguing that environmental rules have raised energy costs and deterred investment.
Griffith admitted that the party would not be able to slash inheritance tax immediately, citing what he described as the worst public finances in history. He warned that Labour would hand over a dire fiscal inheritance, and said that any tax reductions would have to be phased in as the economy recovered. The shadow chancellor also accused Labour of pursuing policies that would stifle growth and drive wealth creators out of the country.
The speech drew a sharp response from Reform UK, which accused the Conservatives of copying policies it had announced weeks and months ago. The populist party said the Tories were attempting to reposition themselves on the right without offering credible delivery. The exchange highlights the pressure on the Conservatives from Reform UK, which has been polling strongly and eating into the Tory vote in recent months.
On the conference fringe, the Tories handed out «Bottler Burnham» bottles of water, a stunt mocking Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham over claims he cancelled plans for an early election under pressure. The bottles, featuring an image of Burnham by Manchester artist Stan Chow, are a throwback to a 2008 stunt when the party distributed «Bottler Brown» beer. The jibe is seen by some as unfair, as there were no Burnham plans for an early election.
Griffith also criticised the SNP’s effective ban on new nuclear energy in Scotland, calling it a rejection of common sense. He said no part of Great Britain should miss out on new nuclear capacity, framing the issue as part of a broader need to secure domestic energy supplies and reduce reliance on imports.
The conference comes as the Conservatives seek to rebuild their economic credibility after a heavy general election defeat. Griffith’s proposals are likely to face scrutiny over their costings and feasibility, particularly the claim that deregulation alone could cut £50,000 from the price of a new home. Housing experts have long argued that planning reform is necessary but insufficient without investment in skills, materials and infrastructure.
Labour has yet to respond directly to the speech, but the government is expected to argue that the Tory plans would weaken environmental protections and fail to address the root causes of the housing crisis. The political battle over planning, tax and the size of the state is set to intensify as both main parties position themselves for the next election.