How Macmillan built 300,000 houses a year
There are some lessons in this for the modern day. Macmillan showed that the ruthless application of political will could achieve a surprising amount.
Nick Pickles: If you love music, Spotify is a brilliant and troubling invention
On the one hand, you have an incredible platform. On the other, the fear that you are helping perpetuate a group of old, close-minded record labels.
Mark Field MP: The case against the Mansion Tax
We might levy taxes on non-resident, non-British owners of property. But a crude mansion tax is not the solution to the South-Eastern property market problem.
Robert Halfon MP: New policies for Popular Conservatism 4) Utility Bills
We know that a price freeze will push up prices and curtail investment. So here are three ways that the Conservatives can tackle the problem of rapidly rising bills.
Interview: Boles – “There is no legal reason why the press should play along with the Royal Charter”
“The Liberal Democrats have shown they do not believe in press freedom. We Conservatives are the party of freedom.”
Tom Papworth: Give people power over housing
The solution, in the words of Tim Leunig,CentreForum’s former chief economist, is to turn the Nimby into an Imby.
Robert Halfon MP: New policies for Popular Conservatism 3) Apprenticeships
One of the best ways to improve the cost of living is by improving skills. It means that those looking for work will get better jobs, and better pay.
Five new members of the No 10 Policy Board and the full PPS list can now be revealed
Some familiar faces on the rise as the last details of the reshuffle are confirmed.
Ryan Bourne: The OBR should not audit manifestos of political parties
Not only would it be another burden on the taxpayer, it wouldn’t add anything of use to the public debate.
Garvan Walshe: Negotiating with Iran? Think of IRA+N(ukes).
Like the Republicans, whose didn’t find themselves on the brink of defeat either, Iran hasn’t been ‘driven to the negotiating table.’ She has options.
Mark Hoban MP: It’s time for academies to have the freedom to borrow
Over the last three years, I have had front line roles in the Treasury and DWP. I learnt a lot – not just about policies but also people and processes.
Nicholas Boys-Smith: Red tape stops us building the homes we want
Let people have they homes they want – not the homes planners think they should want.
When Len McCluskey demanded a clampdown on tax avoidance, he didn’t expect HMRC to look at Unite’s books…
It seems he thinks bashing tax avoiders should be a tax-exempt activity.
There is nothing to lose in publicly falling out with the Lib Dems over green taxes
If our Coalition partners want to explain to voters why they want to keep energy bills high, bring it on.
Alex Morton: How the Government can boost housing between now and 2015
There are plenty of ways to solve the problem – what’s needed is the political will.