Labour are dead right to force councils to build more homes – the planning system is a brake on growth
Brick Reeves
BEFORE the election our two big hopes for Labour were wholesale NHS reform and a planning revolution.
Three days in, the latter is commendably under way.
Rachel Reeves’ speech was music to the ears of all those in despair over the housing crisis — especially in London and the South — and the inevitably exorbitant prices and rents for properties which do become available.
The Chancellor is dead right to reimpose on local councils mandatory targets for building, axed by the Tories.
And to rethink and hopefully approve big infrastructure projects brainlessly blocked by a vocal NIMBY lobby.
We hope she goes further.
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The entire planning system is archaic and a brake on growth.
Self-important councillors and officials can spend months deciding if a home-owner may build even the tiniest extension.
That is a blueprint for stagnation which the new Government should torch and rewrite from scratch.
Growth is absolutely essential to make Britain richer and fund public services.
It was the Tories’ priority too. Too often they caved in to NIMBYs in vulnerable marginal seats.
Ms Reeves has rightly seized the opportunity they gifted her.
Speeches are easy, though. We welcome this one. But we will cheer when that 300,000-homes-a-year target is actually met — and when growth ticks up.
A good start. Let’s hear more.
Channel flaw
AS the first illegal migrants on Keir Starmer’s watch land gleefully at Dover, Channel 4 seems to have lost its mind.
How else to explain its sick gameshow in which contestants journey back to the UK from global warzones, including by small boat across the perilous Channel?
Forget its weasel excuse that it “will provide a compelling perspective on the plight of asylum seekers”.
Most arriving illegally are chancers with no legitimate claim and paid handsomely for their fare.
This show will act as a “how to” guide for others aiming to risk their lives on a criminal’s dinghy.
It is misguided and insanely irresponsible.
Star of The Sun
FOR decades our Trevor Kavanagh reigned supreme as the king of political journalists.
Sun readers love him.
Millions who don’t even read The Sun know who he is.
His professorial look and statesmanlike tones project an authority entirely in keeping with his insight, wisdom and vast experience.
Generations of MPs both admired and feared his razor-sharp verdicts.
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But — for all those scoops and awards — his prime motivation was to champion our readers . . . and he did so brilliantly for more than 40 years until his retirement this week. What a career!
So long, Trevor . . . a true legend of our trade.