Piers Morgan insisted Labour will not hit its ambitious housebuilding target in a BBC Question Time clash.

The panel show was discussing whether the Government’s bid for 1.5million new homes by the end of this Parliament is an “assault on our green and pleasant land”.

Addressing Cabinet minister Wes Streeting, Mr Morgan said: “It’s not going to happen. Sorry Wes.”

Mr Streeting replied: “You really are the Grinch this Christmas.”

The broadcaster went on: “I don’t want to be the Grinch, it’s just not going to happen in the same way that the promises we got from the Conservatives didn’t happen.”

Mr Morgan challenged the Health Secretary to a bet of £1 to charity for every home Labour does not build up to £1.5million, which Mr Streeting declined.

The TalkTV host added: “So you’re admitting you’re not going to hit the target is my point.”

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He went on: “In principle, I totally buy into what Labour are doing. I’ve got three sons and it’s incredibly expensive for any young people to get on the housing ladder.

“So I hope they are right. I just don’t think they can deliver it.”

Earlier in the programme, Mr Streeting defended his party’s housebuilding targets.

He said: “What they are is an attack on the situation we see in our country today where too many people are priced out of decent homes.

“For years now and under successive governments, we have not built the number of homes needed and this is a simple supply and demand problem.”