Ukip countryside policy: immigration is a bigger problem than second home owners

Ukip’s deputy chairman has insisted immigration is a bigger issue for Britain’s housing crisis than second home ownership – while acknowledging she has “two and a third homes”.

Suzanne Evans said uncontrolled immigration had to be stopped to ensure there is “any countryside left for ourselves and others to enjoy” and to relive pressure on housing demand and services.

The senior Ukip figure also accused the Conservatives of showing more “hatred for the countryside” than Labour as she unveiled the eurosceptic party’s housing plans.

Ukip has pledged to prioritise bringing back into use around 300,000 empty properties in Britain and “incentivise” developers to build one million homes on brownfield sites by 2025.

Ms Evans said this would take place “long before we even begin to consider allowing the destruction of our precious greenbelt”.