This footage was filmed and produced 25 September 2023.

Liberal Democrat MP and former party leader Tim Farron has hit out against those in his party seeking to retain national housing targets, describing it as “Thatcherism”.

He told the party’s conference hall: “If there was a credible amendment today to build 380,000 council houses a year, I would back it.

“I reckon I can get away with being a rebel again now, I do not give a monkey’s, but amendment one does not do that. It is a vague and vacuous target, and we have had vague targets for years – they are not radical, they are not liberal, they are not new, they are not effective.

“Vague targets let and empower developers to build the houses that they want but never … the homes that we desperately need, especially that young people actually need. The authors of amendment one do not mean it, but it is pure Thatcherism,” he said, being booed by some in the hall.

He described it as an “electoral gift to the Tories, including right now in Mid (Bedfordshire)” adding: “I will take the hit to stand up against nimbyism, but I will not take an electoral hit to fight the corner of corporate investors.”

Having spoken for the maximum duration allowed, his last few words were cut off and he left the stage to applause.