In an opinion piece for Waterbriefing, Gavin Shuker MP, Shadow Resources Minister for Labour,asks:

"Flooding is the UK’s number one threat due to climate change. So why is it such a low priority to this Prime Minister?"

Two months is all that stands between today’s near universal coverage for flood damage, and an unfettered free market that will leave tens of thousands of homes uninsurable, unmortgageable and unsellable.

Much has been written about the ongoing negotiations between the government and the Association of British Insurers, and their efforts to find a workable solution to affordable flood insurance for high risk properties. The mood music is not good.

This government have had three years to get an agreement, but too little has been done, especially in the early years. With the 30 June 2013 deadline rapidly approaching, Department of Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) ministers were humiliatingly stripped of responsibility and the Prime Minister’s Cabinet Office fixer Oliver Letwin was put in charge of negotiations. The result, rather than progress, has been a bizarre mix of government inaction and unworkable threats.

Despite the ABI’s ‘Flood:re’ being the only deal on the table, in recent weeks the government have briefed they could pursue a rival model, or even legislate to force insurers to offer flooding cover as standard. Homeowners would be heartened to know this cover is available - but what use is flood cover at £10,000 a shot? Insurers would simply price themselves out of the market.

Even if a deal is agreed, it will require primary legislation to be enacted, which could take up to eighteen months to put in place. The ABI have said they’ll not even look at the topic of interim protections for homeowners until they reach agreement with government on Flood:re.

Unfortunately, there’s little in this government’s record on flooding that would give much hope to those expecting a deal. Climate change will make flooding more common and less predictable, so we know we should be investing more in flood defences. The Government is doing the opposite and initially cut spending on flood defences by £400 million.

There are serious concerns about the Government’s muddled management on flooding with the National Audit Office and Public Accounts Committee questioning which Minister and Department is responsible. The Defra Select Committee have established we lack the computing power necessary to predict even major flooding events before they happen.

So where will the leadership to get the deal done come from? In the extensive flooding of November last year, David Cameron put on his waders and met families devastated by flooding. ''I'm sure we will do a deal,'' the Prime Minister said, adding reassuringly: ''I am personally involved.''

He’s been silent on the issue ever since.

In short, if this government fails to get a deal, nearly 200,000 households could find themselves without insurance, unable to sell, with their properties revalued sharply downwards, placing them in negative equity, and creating tranches of property blight all around the UK.

This government needs to get a grip - and soon.