Party Funding Myth?
Wednesday, April 23rd, 2008While I’m still stuck on the train I thought I’d reflect on a report in today’s Guardian which highlights a new piece of research from the right-leaning think tank, the Policy Exchange, on political party spending.
The study claims that election spending by the Conservatives has actually declined, in real terms, by 4% between 1996 and [...]
Gorgeous George and That Ball
Wednesday, April 23rd, 2008It’s a little quiet around here at the moment mainly because of the local elections. Mind you there’s lots of time to think when you’re pounding the streets and chatting to the public; no doubt these thoughts will make their way here over the next few weeks. But I thought I’d share today’s experience with [...]
Here Comes to Co-op
Monday, April 7th, 2008I don’t usually talk about local things around here but I’m quite excited by the announcement this morning that the United Cooperatives group has expressed interest in buying the Somerfield supermarket chain.
Somerfield have two branches near me, in territory that should be naturally supportive of co-operative principles. It looks as if the Co-op might be [...]
Eco Homes
Thursday, April 3rd, 2008What to think about the new Eco Homes initiative? Now the shortlist has been announced we can look forward to a lot more work to follow over the next six months.
I seem to remember some European research - about five or six years ago - that suggested the optimum size for the sustainable city was [...]
More on Housing
Thursday, April 3rd, 2008I’m buoyed by Bob Piper’s announcement that in the next Bob Piper’s next goverment there will be a role for me in his Department of Housing. This and other response’s on my previous housing post (both comments and emails) make me think I’ll stick with the topic for a while.
Andrew Brown raises the question [...]
A Mayor For The Rest of Us?
Thursday, April 3rd, 2008There was an interesting and provocative piece by Jonathan Freedland in the Guardian yesterday, dealing with Ken’s campaign in London and thinking about the implications for local government more widely.
I write a long-ish response to the article and it’s been suggested that I should publish it here. (Surely there aren’t people who read this bu [...]
Housing - The Issue That Won’t Go Away
Tuesday, April 1st, 2008Last night’s rebellion by a group of Labour MPs (including five ex-Ministers) put social housing back in the spotlight, at least for a little while. I’ve felt for a long time now that social housing is simply the forgotten area of public policy.
During Labour’s Deputy Leader contest Jon Cruddas made housing a central plank [...]
