The government will unveil a fresh scheme to help people on to the housing ladder next month but a debate is already raging over whether it is first-time buyers or housebuilders who will be the biggest winners.

At the weekend, Andy Burnham announced plans for Your First Home, which aims to give a helping hand to first-time buyers who do not have the luxury of being able to call on the "bank of mum and dad".

Only a few details have emerged, but the news was enough to send the share prices of many UK housebuilders surging on Monday. Persimmon closed 14.7% higher, while Barratt Redrow added 11.7%, Taylor Wimpey 11.5%, Crest Nicholson 11% and Vistry 10.7%.