UK Conservative Party proposes abolishing environmental agencies to speed up development

At the Conservative Party's annual conference in Birmingham, shadow chancellor Andrew Griffith announced a deregulation package to boost development and cut taxes. The plans include scrapping net zero rules for new housing, abolishing the Environment Agency and Natural England, and expanding Heathrow Airport. The party claims these measures could reduce new home costs by £50,000. The proposals have drawn criticism from Labour, Liberal Democrats, and Reform UK, who question their feasibility and accuse the Tories of copying policies.