A Hampshire MP has spoken in support of her party’s plans for housing.

Fareham Tory Suella Fernandes spoke in the House of Commons in a debate on the party’s plans to allow people to buy housing association properties, first announced by the party in the run-up to the General Election.

Other parties have criticised the proposals, with Labour saying it would not help young people looking for homes while Lib Dem leadership hopeful Tim Farron said he would oppose the policy “tooth and nail”.

However Ms Fernandes has described Conservative policies as “well thought-through” but said more needs to be done to help people onto the property ladder.

In the speech she said: “With an increasing population due to longer life expectancy and more one-person households, supply has been exceeding demand, pushing prices up and forcing people to rent for longer than desired. In Fareham the average price of property is £233,000, some 10 times the average annual salary.

“Of course, the need for proper planning and infrastructure is vital and the reforms to the planning system have gone some way towards streamlining the process and ensuring that local people have a greater say in housing decisions.”