A MINISTER is set to meet with a South Lakes MP to discuss the second home crisis.

South Lakes MP Tim Farron has ramped up his campaign to get a tax loophole closed which sees some second homeowners get away with paying no council tax by pretending to be a small business.

A Government consultation on closing the loophole ended last January, but 12 months later and they are still yet to make a decision.

Speaking during Housing questions, Mr Farron said: “Is the Government going to take action to protect communities in the South Lakes and elsewhere or have they decided not to bother?”

In response, the Housing minister Esther McVey incorrectly stated that the consultation closes later this week when it had in fact ended in January 2019.

However, she agreed to meet to discuss further ways to protect the Lakes.

Mr Farron added:“It just shows how low a priority the future of so many of our rural communities is for the Conservative Government."