
Julian Brazier: How tackling the causes of rising demand would help the Government solve the housing crisis
Last year, the ONS predicted that the population would rise by another three million over the next decade. But home building lags behind.
Last year, the ONS predicted that the population would rise by another three million over the next decade. But home building lags behind.
The most serious risk of all is the clear possibility that the new regime will lead to a massive increase of immigration.
Others would say that the appointment of a profoundly business-friendly Home Secretary was bound to lead to a weakening of immigration policy.
The description is misleading, and will deter young people from entering the sector. Ultimately, it will constrain the labour supply needed to build more houses.
The UK should be willing to consider some flexibility in return for a trade deal – with Australia, with India, with Brazil and, yes, with the EU.
Any exceptions for those with job offers would simply be flimsy camouflage for a wholesale retreat and for the abandonment of a major pledge to the British public.
Without a firm, stated base, we are vulnerable to being pushed around by the Commission. Ministers might find it uncomfortable to talk numbers, but they must.
It’s remarkable that the official public body that advises the Government on such issues seems not to have published a report on this topic since 2011.
We should not allow ourselves, in the next phase of negotiations, to be drawn into further migration concessions in exchange for trade concessions.
Countries with which we strike future trade deals – the top priority for Party members according to our survey – should be treated more favourably than those with which we don’t.