With Keir Starmer seemingly poised for victory on July 4, has Labour got the answers to the housing question? Will the party deliver the radical changes needed?
A really good analysis of Labour’s direction of travel with housing. It seems to me that we need a modern version of the post-war consensus on long term strategy such as climate change and housing. Otherwise it’s difficult to see how any real progress can be made. As you point out the Tories have been in power for most of the time in modern history and Labour, if they win on 4th July as predicted, will be looking over their shoulder for the whole of the next 5 years, aware of the fickle nature of their support this time around. Their 2024 success can largely be attributed to the dire incompetence of the previous government rather than genuine Labour support. I’m aware that the 1945 consensus was more a fortuitous sequence of events than a planned strategy, however it’s disappointing that since 1979 there’s been no coherent “centre ground” in this country.
Thanks Sue - in a funny sort of way I think there is more of a centre ground now than there has been for years. Much of what Labour says it will do is like a maximalist version of what Michael Gove said he would do but didn't - so renter reform, leasehold abolition, 300,000 new homes a year, valuing social rent etc etc, even compulsory purchase. Is that enough, though, without housing being a priority at the top? So far it doesn't seem to be...
A really good analysis of Labour’s direction of travel with housing. It seems to me that we need a modern version of the post-war consensus on long term strategy such as climate change and housing. Otherwise it’s difficult to see how any real progress can be made. As you point out the Tories have been in power for most of the time in modern history and Labour, if they win on 4th July as predicted, will be looking over their shoulder for the whole of the next 5 years, aware of the fickle nature of their support this time around. Their 2024 success can largely be attributed to the dire incompetence of the previous government rather than genuine Labour support. I’m aware that the 1945 consensus was more a fortuitous sequence of events than a planned strategy, however it’s disappointing that since 1979 there’s been no coherent “centre ground” in this country.
Thanks Sue - in a funny sort of way I think there is more of a centre ground now than there has been for years. Much of what Labour says it will do is like a maximalist version of what Michael Gove said he would do but didn't - so renter reform, leasehold abolition, 300,000 new homes a year, valuing social rent etc etc, even compulsory purchase. Is that enough, though, without housing being a priority at the top? So far it doesn't seem to be...