Sunak whistles in the dark

The Chancellor is groping his way, knowing well that the future is unknowable, trying to hold on to as much of the past as he can.

Ryan Bourne: Sunak shouldn’t try today to restore pre-virus Britain. It’s gone – and we must now adapt.

What normalisation should mean is the return to a functioning market economy where our wants and needs are met in today’s circumstances.

Ros Altmann: What Ministers should do to ease the plight of small landlords

Four proposals to help engender a sustainable balance between the rights of landlords and renters.

Sunak’s statement tomorrow. How much like the Old Normal can we afford to make the New Normal be – or try to?

Given the Coronavirus uncertainties, whatever he announces could be even more provisional than most schemes of most Chancellors. 

Shaun Bailey: Our Party shouldn’t be afraid of talking about social housing

We need to build a new generation of high quality, beautiful, green, affordable homes for people to rent and buy.

John Slaughter: How housing for older people can support the recovery effort

Millions of older people want to downsize, but struggle to find suitable accommodation.

Peter Gibson: Set the high street free

By removing red tape around the use of property, our town centres have a chance to be reborn – to allow what people, rather than planners, wish to see.

Robert Halfon: Johnson delivers for the workers but Starmer could win back their votes

Never underestimate the power of Labour. Its message of helping the underdog and the poor is enduring, still popular and extremely potent.

Andy Street: Our blueprint setting out the economic ambitions of the West Midlands

This ambitious business case is based on our experiences not only of recovering from the last downturn, but on the successes of the last three years.

“Take a method and try it. If it fails, admit it frankly and try another. But above all, try something.”

The big picture is that Johnson is dashing for growth. We devoutly hope it works but the precedents aren’t promising.

Andrew Carter: A zoning system is needed to build the homes we need

Most town planners that you speak to will quietly admit that the planning system is designed to prevent development, not permit it.

Paul Carter: We could see a housing recovery – if we give builders the incentives they need

We can still have a million new homes by the end of this parliament. But cutting regulation and boosting smaller firms is needed.

Profile: Robert Jenrick, who rose without trace until he hit two bumps in the road

If the Housing Secretary is to survive, he will have to learn the art of sometimes saying no to property developers such as Richard Desmond.

Johnson and Jenrick may want to reform planning, but will millions of homeowners let them?

A new collection of essays from Policy Exchange shows up some of the glaring defects of the planning system.

Andrew Green: We cannot responsibly fling our doors open to three million Hong Kongers

This is 25 times the number of skilled work permits issued each year to non-EU citizens and their dependants.