London's housing crisis has sparked a heated exchange between Mayor Sadiq Khan and Chancellor Rishi Sunak, with Khan accusing the government of being "blockers not builders" when it

comes to tackling the city's housing shortage.

The clash comes as property prices soar and rents become increasingly unaffordable for many Londoners. The Prime Minister has reportedly stepped in to address the housing problems, but Sunak took a swipe at Khan's housebuilding record, claiming he has failed to deliver the necessary homes, leading to the surge in property prices.

In response, Khan stated that there is indeed a housing crisis in London, and he urged the government to collaborate with the elected Mayor to find solutions. However, he accused the Conservative government of being obstructive, interfering with and delaying crucial housing projects in the city.

Khan called on the government to support new infrastructure projects that could unlock thousands of new homes, and to provide £4.9 billion annually for the construction of social and affordable housing in London.

Sunak has recently announced a review of the London Plan to identify more housing sites and set an autumn deadline for the Mayor to make progress on agreed changes. He also allocated £150 million directly to boroughs for preparing brownfield sites for housing, including necessary infrastructure, and confirmed the relaxation of rules on using £1 billion for affordable housing regeneration.

As the housing crisis persists, tensions between City Hall and the central government underscore the need for a collaborative approach to address London's urgent housing needs. Photo by Chris Whippet, Wikimedia commons.