A TORY rising star candidate has sparked fury over his transformation from new-build backer to “NIMBY” – in time for the election.
In a 2022 paper, wannabe MP Johnny Luk slammed Conservative councils for contributing to the housing crisis and demanded urgent action to build new homes.
Johnny Luk – XJohnny Luk has been criticised for transforming into a NIMBY in time for the election[/caption]
PAPrime Minister Rishi Sunak with Milton Keynes candidates Ben Everitt (centre) and Johnny Luk (right), after delivering a stump speech to party members at the MK Gallery[/caption]
In a now deleted blog post for the consultancy firm Global Counsel, he said: “Planning reform is a particular contradiction for the Conservatives.
“Despite its electoral importance, reforms must meet the immovable object of rural and suburban councils, often Conservative-held.
“With 221,000 more households in the UK every year, and the current annual number of new houses being built barely just exceeding that, finding a viable policy solution is becoming more urgent than ever.”
In May 2024, as the Tory candidate for Milton Keynes Central, Mr Luk vowed to oppose Labour plans for a house building blitz.
Listing his priorities, the candidate posted on X: “Infrastructure before expansion.
“Yes to investing in our existing residents – NO to Labour’s plan to build 63,000 more houses.”
On his campaign page Mr Luk added: “Milton Keynes is one of the fastest growing Cities in the UK…this is causing pressure on local services, standstill traffic and the erosion of green spaces.
“This is too much and too fast.”
According to YMCA Milton Keynes, over 2,000 people are on the housing waiting list and an estimated 2,392 are sofa-surfing.
Labour last night slammed the change in position from Mr Luk.
A spokesperson said: “Even Conservative candidates now admit their housing policy is a complete farce, shattering a generation’s dream of home ownership.
“Labour will get Britain building again. We’ll reform the planning system and deliver 1.5 million homes – to boost the economy and help working people onto the housing ladder.”
A spokesman for Johnny Luk said: “This paper was co-written by another colleague, where Johnny did not have full editorial control, published in 2022 and explores housebuilding from a neutral perspective.
“In Milton Keynes, the Conservatives are building houses at a much higher rate than the national average which is why Johnny is consistently pushing for infrastructure before expansion as one of his local priorities.
“Johnny is proud to stand for the Conservative Party, the natural party of home ownership who have put cutting stamp duty and building more houses in the right areas front of centre of the manifesto.”