Brave New World

We fear the worst after Cummings’ departure, but Johnson must now make the best of it. That means a Cabinet shuffle.

Caino-ho-ho

Finding a new Chief of Staff is only the start of the changes that Johnson needs to make his government work.

Andy Street: As we enter lockdown, we must protect our precious open spaces

Whitehall must understand that if an algorithm offers up cherished green spaces to hungry developers, there will be a local backlash.

Ryan Bourne: If you want to feed hungry children, don’t target food poverty. Aim to reduce poverty as a whole.

Together with tax cuts and less regulation, higher or more extensive benefits look like better support for hungry children than vouchers.

“I cannot support this policy”…”huge concerns”…”levelling over green fields with concrete”. Tory MPs on the Government’s housing plans.

Nineteen Conservative backbenchers spoke against the policy. It’s doubtful whether a top-down targets system will pass the Commons.

As housing day opens at the Tory conference, our survey finds Party members split on Johnson’s planning reforms

Forty-six per cent of respondents back the plans and forty per cent don’t, which mirrors the divisions seen elsewhere.

The three testing days for Johnson coming up in the Commons. (Or two and a half at least.)

There’s a Covid-19 debate today, the Internal Market Bill tomorrow, a housing measure on Wednesday – plus maybe the Brady amendment.

Bob Seely: The Government must urgently re-assess its misguided housebuilding strategy

How can ministers claim to be ‘levelling up’ the country when they are slashing targets for the North and Midlands in favour of the overcrowded South?

Mark Jenkinson: We must seize this opportunity to pass serious planning reform with both hands

My experience in local government has convinced me that change is needed to deliver the beautiful and affordable housing that communities need.

Ben Southwood: The Government’s housing plans need to be refined – not scrapped. They will work if the detail is got right.

These figures will change substantially in the final version of the algorithm, especially because it will take into account green belt restrictions.

Christopher Pincher: The housing growth numbers that you’ve seen aren’t set in stone

It’s important to stress that those generated for an area’s need will not necessarily be the same as its ultimate targets.

John Halsall: The Government must urgently think again about its new housing plan

Instead of giving developers free licence to ruin communities, it should give local government the power to force them to build where they already can.

Neil O’Brien: The next algorithm disaster – coming to a Conservative constituency near you. This time, it’s housing growth.

Most Tory MPs will be seeing large increases in the housing targets for their seats, while many Labour MPs see their local targets reduced.

Richard Holden: My young constituents want to pay less tax and afford a home. We must lift the University debts that hold them back.

A major part of the problem is high tax rates driven by borrowing for higher education courses that they’d be better off not taking.

Ben Southwood: Yes, the current planning system really is at the root of Britain’s housing crisis

The Local Government Association points the finger at developers, but their interpretation of the evidence is misleading.