Construction workers have rejected Angela Rayner's "ambitious goal" to build 1.5 million new homes in the next five years, in another blow to Labour.
This comes after the deputy Prime Minister insisted last week there was "no excuse" not to meet the target, and Starmer doubled down on the pledge, committing to create a generation of new towns with construction beginning before the 2029 election.
Speaking to GB News, political correspondent at The Independent, Millie Cooke said: "It's a very ambitious goal, but the construction industry has made it very clear that they just cannot do it.
"They don't have enough workers. It's a long-term issue, it's not just the Labour Government's doing.
This comes after the deputy Prime Minister insisted last week there was "no excuse" not to meet the target
GB News
"It's very much been building over the course of the past few years.
"The construction industry is saying that Labour has simply not done enough in their policies to tackle this problem, and unveiling such ambitious policies to build more homes is just not achievable with the current workforce."
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The journalist added: "They're saying that the industry is currently being seen low skilled, low wage and high manual labour when there are actually quite lucrative managerial jobs in the industry."
"It should be seen as much more attractive than it currently is. The main argument is about improving pay and changing the wider perception of the industry, to recruit properly in a more targeted way.
"We did lose a lot of workers after Brexit, the 25 to 35 age group, which is really key to the construction sector, they did leave after when they finished projects and they couldn't get new visas after Brexit.
"There was some migration of workers. So it is important to acknowledge why sort of why that issue happened."
Labour has announced plans to tackle the skills shortage, with up to 10,000 more apprentices able to qualify yearly by reducing minimum apprenticeship duration from 12 to 8 months.
Skills minister Baroness Jacqui Smith admitted workforce shortages were "part of the problem" inherited from the previous Government.
"That's why we're really having to ramp up the amount of people who are getting skilled," she told Times Radio.
The Considerate Constructors Scheme (CCS) urged the Government to "be more ambitious" rather than "just cutting corners by reducing apprenticeship lengths".
Construction workers have claimed that the goal is not achievable
PAConstruction industry leaders are calling for comprehensive reforms beyond apprenticeship changes.
Bruce Benson, managing director at Mullaley, said: "The challenges we face in recruitment cannot be ignored. We need to change perceptions, showcase opportunities within the industry, and provide young people with the support they need to succeed."
The Government says it is "taking decisive action" to fix the housing crisis with a £5billion investment this year to "get Britain building again".
Industry leaders want better financial incentives to encourage hiring and more education to "teach young people about the lucrative and fulfilling roles available".
