As the Conservative Party conference continues, a leading Tory has warned that “there is much further to go” on removing buy to let tax advantages.

Damian Green, a former government minister in the Conservative-LibDem coalition, says in a Daily Telegraph article previewing the conference that a truly radical Tory government should champion two things – technology and transparency.

On transparency, Green says the creation of comparison websites has made it harder for “pernicious oligarchies” of large private companies to over-charge consumers; he wants the same to happen to utilities and telecommunications.

Then he moves on to buy to let by stating: “As well as energy prices and broadband access, there is a huge discontent about housing provision.”

He goes on: “We need to reclaim the mantle of the party of home ownership and to do that we no only [need] to build more houses but ensure they are available for people to buy. Too many new houses and flats are immediately snapped up by buy to let landlords and never become available for first time buyers.

Then he makes a reference to the announcement in the July Budget by Chancellor George Osborne that mortgage interest and wear and tear tax breaks for landlords would be restricted.

Green writes: “I am delighted that we have taken the first steps towards removing the tax advantages for buy to let but I suspect there is much further to go (and therefore more political courage required.)”

The former minister’s remarks are likely to reignite the debate over the future of buy to let under a government which, in the eyes of many, had appeared more pro-landlord and pro-investor than the Labour alternative during the spring election campaign.

The Chancellor’s Budget announcements have prompted an online petition against his proposed tax changes, which has so far secured over 32,000 signatures, and a ‘Saynotogeorge’ website has been set up outlining the effects of the tax breaks on consumers, tenants and the property industry.