There is only question to ask of Sunak.
Q. WTF would a billionaire do a very high pressure job for £150k a year?
A. To make sure he and his super rich mates get to keep more of their money and syphon as much wealth as possible from the UK.
I think he's actually more corrupt than De Pfeffel.
Greggs for breakfast Tomorrow then? 😃
Breakfast? Pfft, breakfast is for softie southerners. Up north, us genuine salt of the earth northerners call it "morn-gnaw".
I'm not too bothered about the people who voted for Gullis anyway. If we assume they aren't racist morons then we arrive at the theory that they voted to make themselves poorer to get back at elitists* like me.
So, I'm sure they're happy with their choices and will vote for Gullis (and further erosion of their standard of living) again - just to doubly piss me off.
🤪
*If I'm elitist then so is about 75% of the population, so not much of an elite, then.
🤭
I see Rishi has found an excuse to dodge PMQ's again.
A good article on the 'New Conservatives' including reference to my own (****ing useless Brexiteer, Boris cheerleading) MP who is, of course, a member. We'll all remember that as he defends his majority of 100 votes next year.
Last to speak was the permanently angry James Daly. He’s yet to find an issue on which he doesn’t want to pick a fight. It was all the Blob. The establishment. The Guardian. Another Tory MP who thinks Labour is in power. All he had ever wanted was to be helpful. And the best service he could offer Sunak right now was to spark another civil war. It’s what the party needed. He loved the Conservatives so much he’d do anything to make sure they were never elected again.
https://twitter.com/johnsouthworth/status/1676132080755912705?s=20
I’m not too bothered about the people who voted for Gullis anyway.
That's not obvious by what you post on the political threads Danny.
*If I’m elitist then so is about 75% of the population, so not much of an elite, then.
Wtf are you on about?
liz truss back in the game ? as Sunaks popularity sinks further !
https://twitter.com/YouGov/status/1677269896516780032
I've just had our first general election leaflets through from the labour party to go out delivering. They're getting on an election footing already
The word doing the rounds in Westminster is that apparently Rishi fancies going for a general election early next year as he knows that theres no way he's going to hit any of his 5 targets, but the long-term economic forecasts are so catastrophically grim for next year that going early, before it gets really, really bad might save a few seats
general election early next year as he knows that theres no way he’s going to hit any of his 5 targets, but the long-term economic forecasts are so catastrophically grim that going early, before it gets really, really bad might save a few seats
Tories employing some sort of damage limitation strategy... Shame they don't have a strategy for governing and improving the country, but that's to be expected I suppose.
Interesting graph above, Tories almost reached parity with the Lib dems late 2022. 19% vs 16%?
That's one thing that still flummoxes me.... people seemingly still have it ingrained into thier psyche that they have to vote red or blue or its a wasted vote, which literally perpetuates the two party FPTP system.
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Plenty of seats where a vote for Labour is a wasted vote at a general election as well. FPTP for you.
In my constituency all votes are wasted as the same Tory MP has won for the last 25 years. His low point was 97 where he still got 50% with a 11K majority even then and you remember 97 don't you. Last election he got 64% and before that 66%.
Quite easy to get disillusioned with any chance for change when sat where I am. Yes I could move to give my vote a better chance but that is not actually going to change where I live now is it. At least more locally the people are not such ****ers as the local council vote was Green + Independent which again is proof that a different voting system would bring very different results.
A. To make sure he and his super rich mates get to keep more of their money and syphon as much wealth as possible from the UK.
I disagree. When you have that much money the amount you pay in tax etc is negligible. Besides, being corrupt to that degree is hard work.
I think it's much more likely that he's doing it because he can. Another box ticked off and his picture on the wall. He's got no skin in the game. That's the only reason Johnson did it - he has absolutely zero interest in his constituency or constituents.
Sunak is (or was until he became prime minister) quite popular in Richmond and was to most accounts a fairly capable MP.
Of course he was popular in Richmond (or did you mean Harrogate?), he was funnelling all that leveling up money into Tory strongholds from those pesky plebs.
No, Harrogate has a Tory MP who just does what the party tells him to do.
Frankly it would be nice if some money was funnelled our way. Look at the south east which is getting yet another tube line, the new Dartford tunnel, the Elizabeth line, huge amounts spent on cycling infrastructure, a ULEZ, full rail electrification, all the new EV chargers. Meanwhile our local school closed last month and then last week three coachloads of kids from surrounding schools arrived to use their playing fields…
I’ll also get grumpy about the non-stop building of copy-n-paste housing developments with zero additional infrastructure or facilities yet prices unaffordable to anyone local.
If you live in the SE - and I’m guessing from your comment that you do - you honestly have no idea how good you have it when it comes to spending from central government.
And, finally, wouldn’t you expect your MP to cut dirty deals to a degree in order to benefit their constituents? We elect local MPs, not parties or presidents.
Look at the south east which is getting yet another tube line, the new Dartford tunnel, the Elizabeth line, huge amounts spent on cycling infrastructure, a ULEZ, full rail electrification, all the new EV chargers. Meanwhile our local school closed last month and then last week three coachloads of kids from surrounding schools arrived to use their playing fields…
London and the SE have a bit less than 30% of the population of the whole UK. Bakerloo Line extension is cancelled. Lower Thames Crossing is 0% guaranteed (amd BTW is designed to accelerate freight between Europe and the UK outside the SE). ULEZ is a local government thing and there are ULEZes outside the SE - elect the right council and you can have it too. The London ULEZ isn't stopping you having one. EV chargers are local governmemt too. And my local London council is shutting schools - thanks to Brexit (voted for by English people outside London, basically) there aren't enough kids to fill them. And none of those schools have playing fields!
It's been confirmed that visa/entry requirenents have been relaxed for roofers, tilers, carpenters, plasterers and 'people in the fishing industry' as these are deemed to be critical shortages.
Employer sponsorship still required.
A wider relaxation covering building trades more generally was proposed but not adopted - yet.
Home office was invited by BBC to comment but, unsurprisingly and predictably, no-one was available.
Yet more joined up thinking - or not: fingers in ears, la la la, nothing to see here.
Another example of the rank stupidity of brexit and what happens when a nation deliberately makes itself unattractive and hostile to skilled migrants.
Source: BBC report.
My mystic meg prediction is the scheme will fail.
Educated people won't vote for us is a hell of an admission
Here is the article the headline comes from:
gaslighting nonsense.
From critical race theory (which says white people are all racist) to radical gender ideology (which threatens the safety of women and children) to extreme climate catastrophism (which seeks to impoverish our nation):
Jesus was reading that thinking this journon is a proper moron ..and then I got to the end and found out it's a Tory MP..ok nothing to see here, all is normal 😆😆😆
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/next-general-election-date-rishi-sunak-b2377958.html
Recounting his experience of advising John Major on the timing of the 1997 election, the Tory peer said he now believed an earlier election would have made the defeat "less severe".
"The hope was that something might turn up. Instead voters simply became more irritated,"
I reckon a lot of voters might become even more irritated if they have to wait another 10 months before the next general election.
The difference between now and 1997 imo is that in 1997 voters were simply tired of the Tories. Unlike now the Tories weren't at each others throats and staggering from one self-inflicted disaster to the next.
Unlike now the Tories weren’t at each others throats and staggering from one self-inflicted disaster to the next.
Ah, the 'Back to Basics' era of family values, punctuated by a succession of Tory 'sleaze' scandals, 'Cash for Questions' and other corrupt practices such as the fallout from Matrix Churchill affair and Aitken flogging arms to the Saudis. At each others' throats? I vaguely remember the then Prime Minister describing his anti-EU colleagues as 'bastards'.
They even had financial meltdown in the form of 'Black Wednesday'.
be interesting to see what happens in the by elections
https://twitter.com/ElectionMapsUK/status/1681052936363732994?t=BcnC8Dfqf1awmpbBdtfvRQ&s=19
Turnout will be key, a lot of tories staying home is my prediction
but then im always amazed that anyone votes for them
Uxbridge they are running an ok campaign based around the UZEA to try and get everyone else to stay home as well/enrage a few to come out.
Speaking of byelections.
Has the recall petition been triggered for Pincher yet?
I assume mad nad still is not resigning immediately.
At each others’ throats? I vaguely remember the then Prime Minister describing his anti-EU colleagues as ‘bastards’.
They weren't at each others throats to the extent that they are currently imo, no Tory MPs were forcing by-elections and the Tories didn't have 3 different leaders in the space of one year.
John Major describing colleagues as bastards was 4 years before the general election. By the time the general election came in 1997 the Tory Party wasn't in the crisis it currently is.
The main driver in that general election appeared to be the desire for change. The Tories were fairly united in their sleaze and the economy was trundling along.
They still managed to experience a massive defeat though. Other than that likilihood I can't see much similarities between now and then.
Aitken flogging arms to the Saudis
And trying to cover it up claiming he was on holiday, but got found out by his wife's penny pinching as she asked the hotel to be charged just for one person for a couple of days when he'd popped out to do the deal. Grifters gonna grift!
Word is that Ben Wallace’s hint the other day was spot on and Rishi is about to rearrange the deckchairs on the Titanic in a desperate bid to try and stem the losses.
the fact that Cleverly had to publicly state that he wants to keep the foreign secretary gig, tells you they know a reshuffle is coming
I predict even more culture warriors to the fore (I really hope Im wrong)
I predict even more culture warriors to the fore (I really hope I'm wrong)
Seeing how badly that is failing with the electorate you would think that some boring basic level of competence might help slow the slide. But as its the tories here, I agree with your prediction
Anyone competent in the tories is hiding on the back benches or organising their escape from politics.
Boris Johnson may well have broken Britain, but the one very small consolation is that he's right royally fed the parliamentary Conservative party as well. Who is there to shuffle into the cabinet...? They just need to call an election and f off.
whatever happens can lawrence fox lose his deposit please.
Doesn't seem to feature on the news much. Granted it's only important when the results are read, but usually there's some vox pops/ exit polling/comment around this time.
Not allowed exit polls intil polling stations close
Doesn’t seem to feature on the news much. Granted it’s only important when the results are read, but usually there’s some vox pops/ exit polling/comment around this time.
Yeah, I thought there were 3 'bye' elections occuring today, unless I'm confused...and pretty relevant ones too...?
Not that long now.
Even if he loses three by-elections in one day it’s not going to change much, as I don’t think that anyone doesn’t recognise that they’ve lost the next GE barring a disaster.
they cant report on them until the polls close
the best the government can do is try & generate culture war clickbait in the client press eg
to ensure that their base are enraged enough to come out & vote
I predict even more culture warriors to the fore (I really hope Im wrong)
I can see some proper loons ending up with ministerial roles, as they’re all that’s left
Cates is the prime example, I suspect she may be on her way up!
I reckon my MP, James Daly, is prime for a job, given that he’s 2019 intake and a full on Brexiteer headbanger.
John Crace described him as ‘permanently angry about something’. It’s normally immigration, but he’s usually outraged about some culture war issue or another, the mekon-headed cockwomble
Since Johnson purged anyone who is not an utter crook or moron, what good can a reshuffle possibly do?
That horse-faced bint Cates sounding off to all and sundry is possibly an indication that she is in line for a big job. God help us.
We are, still, the laughing stock of europe.
they cant report on them until the polls close
They can.
The only restriction is around people saying who they voted for. So generally interview them going in rather than out.
It does seem to be more quiet in terms of reporting than the last couple of byelections.
Might be a long post, I apologise but a few topics to cover
Fox got 2.3% of the vote and lost his deposit. After all that bluster (Reclaim were even tweeting that if things went to plan he could be the next Prime Minister) hopefully he'll now find a stone to crawl under. Sadly I think he'll linger; terrifyingly I might even have a fiver on him being PM one day. If BoJo, Trump, and Arnie can do it......
SKS - while I understand (and even agree with) the sentiment of being honest about what we need, when the game is getting this lot out I can't avoid thinking his tactic on Brexit/Rejoin of 'Don't scare the horses' remains the right one.
Uxbridge / ULEZ. Proof again that we're just selfish:
"Air quality and climate change is really important.
"We know! Something must be done about it!
"That's going to require some effort and sacrifice on your part though....
"Is it? **** that!
- and also I don't understand why Sadiq Khan is carrying the can on a policy a certain Alex de Pfeffel created.
Tactical Voting; Somerton and Selby seem to be indicating that the public get it even without needing to be corralled in that direction.
Lastly - a potential reshuffle. Aside from the 'who's left to give a job to' question, ACOBA is supposed to prevent a Minister from then taking a job in the same sector that may then lead to influencing Gov for 2 years. If this clownshow has another 6-12 months to run, who wants an impossible job for that time followed by then not being able to work in that sector afterwards? How big is the ministerial pension? Does he only offer the jobs to those folk he hates but won't be able to resist them? Or those that don't care about ACOBA anyway - there is a certain recent form in this. Or maybe (careful what you 'wish' for) maybe he puts people in roles that they no idea about so that when they get voted out they can still go back to former industries. It's only the country that suffers, after all.....
There are approx 250 Tory MPs with majorities less than Selby and Ainsty.
The Uxbridge backlash against the ULEZ is infuriating.
There are approx 250 Tory MPs with majorities less than Selby and Ainsty
who hopefully will be having an uncomfortable breakfast right now, followed by a day thinking about future careers.
Wouldn't surprise me if we see more rats jumping from the sinking 'Good Ship Tory' in the next few weeks. If they know they'll likely be losing their seats at the next election they'll probably be wanting to brush up their Linkedin profile ahead of time.
surely thr megalolz are that Johnson ran away but he might have actually hung on to Uxbridge 😂
be interesting to see where Sunak goes with his reshuffle
be interesting to see where Sunak goes with his reshuffle
I expect they’ll fully mobilise against the ‘green crap’ as they now know it works with the climate-change-denying gammons, try to tar Labour with the same brush as Just Stop Oil (which they’re doing already) and tie it all in with their nasty, reactionary, anti-immigrant culture war agenda
I think we’ll see some proper loons promoted today. It’s literally all they’ve got left
So, is Uxbridge full of ULEZ hating pensioners for the conservatives to retain the seat ?
So, is Uxbridge full of ULEZ hating pensioners for the conservatives to retain the seat ?
All the councils that are taking the ULEZ to judicial review in an attempt to get it thrown out are Tory councils.
They are also the ones who have done the least to support active travel, EV charging installation, bus priority etc.
They're the ones that either didn't install, or installed then almost instantly removed, Low Traffic Neighbourhoods.
Basically they're all car-dependent dinosaurs bleating on about how bike lanes cause congestion and other assorted shit but now, faced with another measure to try and reduce London's chronic air pollution issues are resorting to defending "hard done by drivers" and calling it a Khan tax on the motorist. So yes, it's very much a "look at the Labour Mayor nicking all your money!" rather than a "look at how shit we are as Tories for giving you no other option but to drive everywhere!"
So, is Uxbridge full of ULEZ hating pensioners for the conservatives to retain the seat ?
I would imagine there are a large number of owners of petrol/diesel-guzzling 4x4 ****panzers, who regard it as their god-given right to drive absolutely everywhere, without having to pay to do so
The Uxbridge backlash against the ULEZ is infuriating.
Especially as it was a Tory Govt demand as a part of the Transport for London budget...
I wonder how many folk in Uxbridge who voted Tory will use ULEZ as their rational but will never actually pay the ULEZ charge if/when it comes in because they either don't drive, have newer vehicles or will never go in anyway?
Thanks for the explanation - I had to look up where abouts Uxbridge was and can see it right on the edge.
One person certain to be gone in todays reshuffle if Theresa Coffey as Environment Secretary (apparently this is common knowledge in Whitehall already).
I reckon its safe to assume she'll now be replaced by the most vocal climate-change-denier in the Tory party (there plenty to choose from there) and they'll double down on that anti-environmental libertarian agenda, grant more North Sea drilling licenses, resurrect fracking proposals etc
Whats utterly depressing, though unsurprising, is how many people are prepared to vote for that
The Uxbridge backlash against the ULEZ is infuriating
So, is Uxbridge full of ULEZ hating pensioners for the conservatives to retain the seat ?
I would imagine there are a large number of owners of petrol/diesel-guzzling 4×4 ****panzers, who regard it as their god-given right to drive absolutely everywhere, without having to pay to do so
I'm not familiar with Uxbridge, but if its anything like Bromley (where i live) there will be many normal families and older people who are now having to get rid of perfectly good cars due to this new tax. Anyone who thinks the only impact is to to price 'gas guzzling 4x4s' off the roads has their head up their arse.
Whilst i agree in principle with ULEZ, it has been rushed through without proper consultation or consideration of those not able to just buy a new car. The better way would have been to delay a couple of years and give people 2-3 years notice this is happening.
If this costs labour at the next general election it serves them right - as this is not a policy to support ordinary working people.
Basically they’re all car-dependent dinosaurs bleating on about how bike lanes cause congestion and other assorted shit but now, faced with another measure to try and reduce London’s chronic air pollution issues are resorting to defending “hard done by drivers” and calling it a Khan tax on the motorist.
Let them breathe benzene rings.
The problem is that it affects everyone else too. But that is an added bonus for the reactionary gammons.
So, is Uxbridge full of ULEZ hating pensioners for the conservatives to retain the seat ?
https://twitter.com/jeffgrim71/status/1682275009610252289
If this costs labour at the next general election it serves them right – as this is not a policy to support ordinary working people.
But, as with the Clean Air Zone in Manchester, the local government have to do this to meet air quality standards that have been imposed on them by the Tory Government
All this is is a blamestorming exercise, which the Tories are very good at
Anyone who thinks the only impact is to to price ‘gas guzzling 4x4s’ off the roads has their head up their arse.
Yup, it includes vehicles that comply with low emissions requirements, just not "ultra" low.
I don't know what the scrappage rate is in London but if left alone it is a problem that would resolve itself. The last lingering vehicles that don't comply will be vehicles that are barely used, maybe once a week to the supermarket, so not a significant contribution to pollution.
Surely scrapping old cars is just wasteful. Improving their emissions must be possible
The Uxbridge backlash against the ULEZ is infuriating.
Got a mate who lives in Uxbridge and it's a lot more than just ULEZ, Sadiq Khan has been blamed for everything from the rise of knife crime to road works especially in the right-wing parts of London inside the M25.
If this costs labour at the next general election it serves them right – as this is not a policy to support ordinary working people.
It's very very hard for folks when their mortgage is becoming unaffordable, electricity and gas is becoming unaffordable, food prices are going up relentlessly and childcare is taking the rest of their wages. and now on top of that they need to sell a perfectly good car and buy a new one, along with everyone else, so prices will be skewed
Fun times.
re. Uxbridge (bearing in mind our company head office is in South Ruislip), the ULEZ expansion is viewed as being something that would greatly affect peoples wallets: fines for driving the car you own, can't afford to replace the car with a horrifically expensive EV that damages roads, carparks, kills baby Robbins etc and by the way their not really that green at all and their batteries explode and catch fire dontchaknow cos I read it in the papers and oh yes pollution is bad but what about the cost of living?
Its basic politics: A sound, rational environmental policy coming up against emotional counter-arguments that has (just) managed to trump a national trend at the polls. The interesting thing will be what happens at the general election next year where the local issues/arguments get overtaken by national ones?
Is this the same constituency that voted against the expansion of Heathrow for environmental reasons, but oppose ULEZ?
No, they opposed Heathrow because it would have made their houses more noisy. They greenwashed it to make it look like they cared for the environment but all they were really concerned about was the house prices.
Whilst i agree in principle with ULEZ, it has been rushed through without proper consultation or consideration of those not able to just buy a new car. The better way would have been to delay a couple of years and give people 2-3 years notice this is happening.
No it hasn't, the expansion was always on the cards and has been endlessly consulted on. In fact the expansion of it now was a [b]specific condition[/b] of Tory funding to TfL, it was in a letter from Grant Shapps to Sadiq Khan that said "we'll give you this money but TfL needs to be more self-funding, please bring forward the expansion of ULEZ". It was specific Tory caveat in exchange for funding. Do it NOW, not next year.
If the Tory council there had actually spent the last 10 years or so putting in place alternatives, rolling out LTNs, introducing parking levies, better bus services etc, people there wouldn't be so car-dependent.
I would imagine there are a large number of owners of petrol/diesel-guzzling 4×4 ****panzers
No, it’s full of people driving old diesel cars and vans. A Mercedes AMG 6.4 is Ulez compliant. A 2005 Mini Cooper is not. We’ve just upgraded as we live three miles outside and travel into the new zone all the time. Many won’t have the resources to do so.
I assume the LBC listening pensioners above don't listen between 10am - 4pm and until recently didn't turn back on until 7pm?
The vast majority of it's daytime listening certainly isn't aimed at the swivel eyed, racist nut jobs.
Sadiq Khan has been blamed for everything...
Exactly this. Tory areas effected by ULEZ are strongly motivated to vote against Khan, because he is seen to focus on (favour if you like) areas of London were the others they love othering live.
No it hasn’t, the expansion was always on the cards and has been endlessly consulted on.
This as well. There was a political consensus on the need for ULEZ for London. Conveniently forgotten by Conservative politicians and the media alike when it can be used to squeeze Labour. Expect a lot more of this for both the London Mayoral elections and the General Election.
It is absolute classic Tory britain though isn't it- have westminster force the Labour mayor of London to introduce an unpopular policy, and then win a by-election off the back of that. And then act like your 500 vote victory is a dazzling success
I also think they will pivot to full on anti "green lunacy", but, based on their frankly heroic and pacey tempo of missteps, it will almost certainly bite them in the ass:
"The oddly named Hurricane Swampy today devastated Spalding, in the Tory heartland of South Holland and The Deepings .
To the tune of the Dambusters, the local MP, Sir John Henry Hayes CBE, said 'The massive death toll and flooding and utter destruction is disappointing but 32C and cat 5 hurricanes are completely normal for this part of the plucky, Great British UK. In February. And don't forget it's the fault of those ULEZ hugging, remoaners.
Just look at our new trade deal with Gibraltar! Go on. Look at that. Instead'.
In response, the government has promised financial support (based on savings in other areas of Spalding) .But Sir John said 'it's not really necessary as I'm already as rich as a Nazi and I dont live there.'"
.
.
.
...Slow morning.
It shows just how utterly ****ed they are that they lose two by-elections with absolutely huge swings away from them, then try to spin hanging on to one by the width of a gnats bawhair as some huge victory?
Yeah... right!
Rishi can turn up with his stupid fixed grin and try and make it look like anything other than an utter disaster but absolutely nobody is buying that shit
I expect we'll now have another slew of Tory MPs saying they'll be standing down at the next election because they all know whats coming
Apparently their one phyrric victory proves "Labour's incompetence in government", according to the chairman of the tory party. Yet another Tory that's forgotten they're still the government, for now.
it has been rushed through without proper consultation or consideration of those not able to just buy a new car. The better way would have been to delay a couple of years and give people 2-3 years notice this is happening.
It was announced in March 22 with a year and a half implementation. And it's hardly as if it wasn't predicted before that.
I'm also in Bromley but spent quite a few years living in Uxbridge in the 00s. It was a solidly safe tory seat going back to 1885 except for a bit of post-war Labour, even in the landslide 1997 GE they had a bigger majority than now.
Where I am there's endless FUD thrown around about ULEZ. If you've got a petrol car that's under 17 years old or a diesel under 8 (and some older than that) you're fine. The vast majority you see driving about will be compliant. For those that aren't, suitable cars are abundant and cheap for people that need to drive about.
Where I am there’s endless FUD thrown around about ULEZ. If you’ve got a petrol car that’s under 17 years old or a diesel under 8 (and some older than that) you’re fine.
This. The affordability argument doesn't hold water.
A bit like when there was a taxi protest about the GM CAZ outside Bolton town hall. Most of the taxis present would’ve been exempt…
The ever-present worry here (putting aside the fact that Shapps forced the ULEZ expansion in return for a TfL funding settlement, which they’re glossing over) is that now both main parties will use this as an excuse to roll back environmental policies, in a climate emergency, and in one of the most nature-degraded countries in Europe.
This. The affordability argument doesn’t hold water.
For people on minimum wage in the current economic climate with a non-exempt vehicle that might not be true.
Anecdotally, Bradford has seen the number of home care workers fall substantially since the ULEZ was introduced, and I personally know of 2 who have moved to Kirklees jobs simply to avoid buying a new car.
I'm not arguing that ULEZ isn't necessary nor right but there will be a fair number of people that will struggle on the grounds of affordability.
Similar to the EV thread where affordability wasn't seen to be an issue now as you could get EV's for around £15K.
ransos
Free MemberThis. The affordability argument doesn’t hold water.
Easy to say, but if you're someone who needs a car, and has a non-compliant one, it holds plenty.
Though that's an argument about ULEZ where in this thread we should probably be talking more about the insane result its had on the politics here, where the people who pushed the expansion are benefitting from the backlash. And more importantly how that's being twisted from a mad local case into a general argument against environmental policies
Just listening to Gove (remember him?) talking about their 'radical housebuilding programme'
This seems to amount to doing absolutely nothing in the immediate future (just like they've done for the last few years) and possibly building a few brownfield homes in cities at some indeterminate point in the future
The whole 'policy announcement' is just an attack on labour by telling all the NIMBY's in marginal seats that if labour gets into power it'll build council estates all over the green belt, whereas the Tories will oppose any housebuilding outside cities
We're definitely seeing the attack lines being drawn up for a general election.