For Conservative politicians housing is nasty disease, best avoided. Labour and Liberal Democrats catch bouts too. In 2014 Reading’s Labour politicians rejected a housing solution for the town, to win some seats in the local elections. Last year we all saw the opportunistic Liberal Democrats activities in the Chesham by-election. For Truss and Sunak housing policy failure is no longer toxic. It is explosive on a nuclear scale. Ask Sir John Redwood, after 30+ years as Wokingham’s MP if he has an answer for his constituents?
Don’t expect an answer from the two candidates for Prime Minister. Do not listen to their words. Instead watch their actions. And wait, wait and wait. Smile a little as you do. Stop looking for the elephant. Can you spot the mouse?
Failure of leadership; housing policy omissions are not the fault of politicians. Problems which demand long term answers and cross-party political consensus cannot be delivered locally or nationally if the media is obsessed with the short term, with confrontation, and headlines, not substance. Adverserial attitudes produce policy stalemate. Solutions will require co-operation.
Ian Campbell
7 August 2022
