TWO Cumbrian MPs have disagreed over plans to cut stamp duty.

Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron took to the floor of the House of Commons on Monday evening to urge the new chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, to ditch the plans.

He said: “What it will do is add fuel to the fire of a second-home ownership and Airbnb disaster in areas such as the Lakes and the Dales.

“Does he understand the damage that excessive second-home ownership and Airbnb do to communities such as mine and other parts of the country?

“Will he think again and do something to support our communities and stop the housing catastrophe?”

Mr Hunt said: “I entirely understand the concerns about second-home ownership, and the Government have been looking at that policy in enormous detail over recent months.

“However, I gently say to the honourable member that it would be wrong to be dismissive of the concerns of young people desperately trying to get onto the housing ladder, and the help that we are giving them with the stamp duty reforms will make a significant difference.”

Barrow and Furness MP Simon Fell said 'blunt tools' such as cutting stamp duty could 'cause trouble of a different sort'.

"I'd much rather see councils have more and better powers to require planning permission for homes that are being used as lets, and for covenants be put in place on new builds, just as the Duchy of Cornwall has successfully trialled," he said.

On Monday, Mr Fell sat down with Housing Minister Lee Rowley to discuss second-home ownership.

"We need a vibrant offer that attracts visitors, but not at the cost of hollowed-out villages and a long-term rental market that is shrinking," said Mr Fell on Instagram.

"I raised a range of contributory issues, from the cost of meeting energy performance certifcates for older rural homes to the challenges that landlords are currently facing, causing many to leave the market altogether or shift their properties into short-term lets."

He said: "I’m very grateful to the minister for convening a roundtable on this issue and for listening to the concerns of the constituents who have raised this with me."