Another voice has joined the chorus, Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer says the Prime Minister, by failing to push through planning reform kills off the dream of home ownership. In his reply, at Question Time in the House this week the Prime Minister revealed his solution, by staying silent.
How sad this is. You might think that a solution to one of the top three domestic issues we face, as our parents did for us, providing appealing homes to our children and grandchildren would be high on the agenda of the third PM his year. It would reassure doubters about his leadership potential.
Just finished reading Henry Kissinger’s newly published book, Leadership. What a contrast! Konrad Adenauer, leader of West Germany after facing the devastation of WW2; Charles de Gaulle leading France back to national self-belief after the debacle in 1940; or Lee Kuan Yew, prime minister of Singapore for three decades trying to find a future for a sovereign tip of the Malaysian peninsular after Royal Navy withdrew: these leaders faced domestic challenges in different league.
Back here in England in 2022 we have the land; we have the demand; we have the money; we have the technical skills; we have some examples of success, and lots of examples of failure, and above all we need the investment. But we cannot make the political decisions needed. Is this what Alice in Wonderland in the 21st Century will look like? Leadership paralysis on this scale is very worrying. Neither political party on its own will succeed. Four decades of failure make this obvious.
For example despite Sir Keir Starmer’s justified indictment it is unlikely Labour will be anymore successful providing the homes needed, especially in the popular Tory controlled rural shire in the South East. Even in Labour controlled areas- look at Reading in 2014- it fails. Spatial myopia does not observe political boundaries. Unless and until political leaders nationally and locally work together, and avoid cheap shots at one another our kids housing prospects will continue their disappearing act into the horizon.
It is not surprising the government’s chief planner Joanna Averley recently admitted (23 November, trade conference) there is a morale problem in local planning authorities. Mad isn’t it? A massive economic win, improved growth, improved productivity, homes we need, new wealth released through planning consents destined to use at most 2-3% of England’s green and pleasant land creating a new Tuscany ……what not to love? Is it time to recover our self-confidence?
Ian Campbell
25 November 2022
