Another housing and planning minister, Lucy Fraser has left her job. The frequency of the ministerial changes is worrying. Is it because new homes do not matter, or is it because the PM gives low or perhaps no priority to mending the broken planning system? After decades of central government policy failure finding individuals who can understand why the system is broken is not easy. Without this insight there is no prospect of political leadership from this government.
The Prime Minster believes in integrity. This is good news. Integrity means recognising 13 years of Conservative housing and planning policies are failing, just like four or five decades of housing and planning policies have failed too. If he, and the Labour leader would both publicly and jointly admit neither party on their own has an answer that would be a welcome step. The truth is neither can deliver the solution without the commitment and support of the other. Each can undermine sensible, long term policies started by the other. This form of destructive confrontation has no place in future election manifestos if genuinely sustainable homes policies are to be delivered by either party.
Ian Campbell
7 February 2023
