There is a podcast series on BBC Sounds called Political Thinking led by the well respected BBC reporter Nick Robinson. Published tomorrow (5 July 2025) the BBC release a new podcast called The Keir Starmer’s Prime Minister One comprising a 45 minute conversation with the Prime Minister. As Sir Keir Starmer personally dominates the Labour government, it is worth listening to in its entirety. It offers insights into his capacity and intentions to deliver policy change.. Whilst there was no mention of housing policy or the PM’s intentions in this area of domestic policy, a comment by the PM near the end of the podcast gave me some scope for hope for future housing supply. . He said “….every challenge that is put in front of me (I) have I have risen to meet it and we will continue to in the same vein…” .
Recorded on Wednesday evening (3 July 2025) his self-confidence I find re-assuring. Taken at face value the deep-rooted and enduring challenges to provide sufficient new housing means he is confident his government can and will overcome these barriers. The biggest challenge his government faces is of course resolving the conflicting priorities: local residents fear of local change and the nation’s need to build lots of new homes, build new infrastructure and revive economic growth held back by decades of resistance to local change.
As the only way I can see of doing so is close cross-party policy alignment over one, two or three decades and so far I do not see evidence this radical re-ordering of Westminster priorities will happen it seems to me the Prime Minister has placed himself in a small space. And the only way ahead for him to deliver his promise above is cross-party alignment I now live in new hope. Let’s watch this small space.
Ian Campbell
4 July 2025
