Why does a new kitchen cost £7,350 in a council flat in Hackney but £2,979 in Camden? Why does a new boiler in Lambeth cost £3,000 but £710 in Kingston?
“Investing in the future, taking advantage of record low interest rates, can be the right thing if done sensibly.”
George Osborne made a bogeyman of buy-to-let landlords, but making it harder and more expensive to supply rental housing is deeply counter-productive.
There’s a place for having a go at Corbyn – how could we not when so much of what he says is so indefensible? – but it has to be combined with our plan for a better life.
Despite his best efforts progress has been derisory. It must be given priority if the housing crisis is to be eased.
Developers and planners will also have to accept difficult changes if the aspirations of the young are to be fulfilled.
We need to look at the write-off threshold more than the repayment threshold or bottom line fees to make a difference that young graduates can relate to.
Space requirements prevent single young people getting on the housing ladder and make overcrowding worse.
We need a Council Tax cut for the young, financed by forced sales of municipal land to boost the number of new homes.
People are not yet at the point where they believe the party in government needs kicking out; they are still willing to give us a hearing.
The Government could make it much easier for older people to downsize by providing a Stamp Duty exemption.
My continuation as a councillor would be likely to serve as a distraction as the council deals with major, pressing issues.