‘Labour can’t have their cake and eat it’: housing crisis will force party into planning rows

The shadow housing minister's objection to high-rise flats in his constituency is typical of the dilemmas Keir Starmer, who has pledged to build 1.5m new homes, will face

Every Wednesday, just before noon, Heavenly Tucker has a flicker of hope. Will today be the day she finally finds her own home? But after waiting more than two years, she is not optimistic when her alarm goes, reminding her to log on to Greenwich council's housing website and bid for whatever properties she can.

The 26-year-old cafe manager still lives with her mother; she is single and has no dependants, so is a low priority. Renting privately would mean coming up with 1,300 a month, and even with two jobs she cannot afford that much.