Current Affairs The Conservative Party

[Nightman]

So you're happy the Country is in tatters, the National debt has quadrupled, cost of living is through the roof, strikes are everywhere and taxes have never been higher. You must be so proud...but don't mention it.

I like Pete, but I've learned that you can't take him seriously after 9.30pm onwards. He's in the pub enjoying himself and winding you all up.

 

[NorthernBlue]

Having more immigrants is a good thing. The free market aspect of conservatism probably gets that, but the social conservative aspect has to portray immigrants as the devil.

Of course. With this lot it could be anything. NHS crisis, Schools, immigration, transport etc. Like who are the blaming it on.

 

[JimmyJeffers]

This doesn't help either. Labour are bloody useless.

he’s a little weasel

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Not even Ed Davey agrees to this these days, was on LBC the other day, agreeing that immigration was undercutting the lower end of employee market and it had to end.

How depressing. There is zero evidence for this being the case.

 

[roydo]

How depressing. There is zero evidence for this being the case.

It is a complete nonsense. Ok, there may well be liberties taken in the "hiding in plain sight" sectors, (nail bars, car washing), but I got paid the exact same as everyone else doing deliveries, (and the companies are desperate for drivers), and if I get my new job, will be paid the exact same as anyone else delivering for Sainsburys. (Again, need a reliable pool).

The black economy has always existed, and always will, but those in that dont register on any reliable data anyrate.

 

[Mrk]

Our levels of immigration are only a 'problem' because our country has a pathetic record of building enough new housing to cope with the demand due to ridiculous planning laws and nimbyism.

I note that 50k of the 600k were citizens of Hong Kong, this is unequivocally a good thing and we should be actively enticing more to move here.

 

[roydo]

Our levels of immigration are only a 'problem' because our country has a pathetic record of building enough new housing to cope with the demand due to ridiculous planning laws and nimbyism.

I note that 50k of the 600k were citizens of Hong Kong, this is unequivocally a good thing and we should be actively enticing more to move here.

According to my newish neighbour, from Hong Kong, there isnt much enticing needed. He was educated in Bristol, his kids have been so for ages, property across the lane came on the market last year, he paid £800,000 ABOVE the asking price to, as he told me, come home.

 

[sbbefc]

Our levels of immigration are only a 'problem' because our country has a pathetic record of building enough new housing to cope with the demand due to ridiculous planning laws and nimbyism.

I note that 50k of the 600k were citizens of Hong Kong, this is unequivocally a good thing and we should be actively enticing more to move here.

90%+ of planning applications are approved. There are thousands of permissions out there not getting built.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

It is a complete nonsense. Ok, there may well be liberties taken in the "hiding in plain sight" sectors, (nail bars, car washing), but I got paid the exact same as everyone else doing deliveries, (and the companies are desperate for drivers), and if I get my new job, will be paid the exact same as anyone else delivering for Sainsburys. (Again, need a reliable pool).

The black economy has always existed, and always will, but those in that dont register on any reliable data anyrate.

It doesn't help that pretty much the only people ever allowed in the media to discuss this issue are politicians. We never actually hear from experts on the topic who might use, oh, you know, evidence.

 

[Mrk]

90%+ of planning applications are approved. There are thousands of permissions out there not getting built.

This figure disguises the problem though - many projects never get to the approval stage due to the hoops that have to be jumped through and what is approved has in many cases been stripped of much value to the proposers - which would (only partly) explain why many approved schemes just never go ahead. There's certainly no lack of money around for such schemes.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

90%+ of planning applications are approved. There are thousands of permissions out there not getting built.

I forget now precisely where I read it, but there was an analysis compariing housebuilding rates since the planning act was introduced in the 40s, and it goes a long way toward explaining why England has 434 homes per 1,000 people, whereas France has 590.. Both it and the green belt policy have failed.

 

[Alan Whittle]

This figure disguises the problem though - many projects never get to the approval stage due to the hoops that have to be jumped through and what is approved has in many cases been stripped of much value to the proposers - which would (only partly) explain why many approved schemes just never go ahead. There's certainly no lack of money around for such schemes.

Supply is controlled by large developers who own significant land banks, much of it with consent. Release it all, whether the construction element can be afforded or not, and the price of the product (and hence the developers margin) would fall considerably.

 

[roydo]

Supply is controlled by large developers who own significant land banks, much of it with consent. Release it all, whether the construction element can be afforded or not, and the price of the product (and hence the developers margin) would fall considerably.

Release it to who?

 

[Mrk]

Supply is controlled by large developers who own significant land banks, much of it with consent. Release it all, whether the construction element can be afforded or not, and the price of the product (and hence the developers margin) would fall considerably.

That was the crux of my original point! The planning laws encourage hoarding of what (average) land is available, which, when combined with our hysterical fascination with protecting the 'green belt' results in a complete lack of supply.

 

[roydo]

That was the crux of my original point! The planning laws encourage hoarding of what (average) land is available, which, when combined with our hysterical fascination with protecting the 'green belt' results in a complete lack of supply.

Why wouldnt you want protect the green belt?