Matthew Pennycook faced criticism from Labour's pro-housing caucus (Image: House of Commons)
A leaked dossier has revealed that Labour’s own pro-housing caucus condemned the now-housing minister for siding with anti-building lobbyists ahead of the election. A central plank of Rachel Reeves’ pro-growth agenda has been to pursue building more homes, latching onto the so-called ‘YIMBY’ (Yes In My Back Yard) movement.
However Labour YIMBY, an internal pressure group comprised of MPs, councillors and activists, circulated a document ahead of the general election warning that the party’s own housing spokesman was siding against the party’s pro-housing agenda.
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The dossier, passed to the Express, reveals concerns about Matthew Pennycook’s commitment to the party’s official policy platform, and his relationship with so-called ‘NIMBY’ groups. The report warned that Mr Pennycook had “Publicly taken a position against YIMBYism. He framed the YIMBY vs NIMBY debate as 'reductive' on a panel at Labour Conference in 2023."
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They also accused Mr Pennycook of "resorting to misinformed derision and simplistic sloganeering" instead of addressing key issues around the housing crisis, such as the need to “back the builders not the blockers”, and concluded that he was “at odds with the leadership” on the crucial issue.
Responding to the leaked warning from within Labour YIMBY circles, the former chairman of Homes England Simon Dudley said it “confirms what Express readers will instinctively know: Labour aren’t serious about building the homes Britain needs.
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"Matthew Pennycook has spent more time attacking pro-housing campaigners than fixing the planning system."
Chris Worrall, the founder of Labour YIMBY who made an astonishing defection to the Tories earlier this week, said the report is “proof that under Labour, the blockers are still winning.”
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The Labour YIMBY group lobbies for pro-housing policies (Image: Labour YIMBY X)
A government spokesperson said: “No one can doubt either the Government’s or the Minister’s commitment to build more homes and end the housing crisis.
“Since coming into office, we have driven forward the government’s ambitious plans to overhaul and streamline the planning system to deliver our 1.5 million homes target, introduced the landmark Planning and Infrastructure Bill to Parliament, announced financial support for stalled housing sites and SMEs, and committed to deliver the biggest increase in social and affordable housing in a generation with record investment.
“What’s more the independent OBR has confirmed our planning reforms will drive housebuilding to its highest level in over 40 years and boost the economy by ￡6.8 billion."
Marc Harris, co-chair of Labour YIMBY, insisted he had not seen the dossier in question, but defended Mr Pennycook’s course of action since entering government.
Mr Harris told the Express: “We’re proud of Matthew and this Labour government for their commitment to deliver the most substantial planning reform and social housing investment package in a generation, and we urge them to keep going and hold firm against the vested interests blocking the homes and infrastructure Britain urgently needs.”
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Despite promising 1.5 million homes over the parliament, new figures earlier this month suggested that Angela Rayner and Mr Pennycook are falling far behind target.
Between July 2024 and June 2025, just 186,600 net new homes were built in England, 113,000 short of what is required to meet Labour’s target.
Just shy of 40,000 homes were granted planning permission in the first quarter of 2025, the lowest figure since 2012 with house building groups warning the collapse could “cripple” Labour’s housebuilding plans.
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