Get up, go out and VOTE!
Good morning, good morning and thrice, good morning! Yes, I am even more chirpy than usual (I know, you didn’t think it is even possible for me to be even more chirpy than usual, but there you have it… Rise and shine campers! Time to trot down and go put your X in the box!
General Elections only come along every four or five years and a change of Government only comes along after three or even four of those. And the polls are suggesting that after four elections where the Conservatives had the most seats, us, the ordinary people, the voters are in a mood for change.
We all know that a change is as good as a holiday, but too much change also leads to instability. Anyone in the housing market can attest to that. 16 Housing Ministers in 14 years is simply too much change. It causes instability. No one Housing Minister got their feet properly under the desk to make the changes we desperately needed. No wonder were in the mess we are with a housing crisis.
I sincerely hope that whoever wins the election (and according to the polls that will be Keir and Labour) will appoint a Housing Minister that doesn’t see the portfolio as a stepping stone to the cabinet like so many of their predecessors, but see it as a destination.
The parties are all promising relatively similar “headline figures” on housing but you do need to look at the tools they are proposing to achieve those targets (some don’t even believe in housing targets). Are they going to make the tough choices about green belt and about infrastructure or are they relying on fanciful ideas that somehow magically 300k new homes per year are going to pop up out of nowhere?
You also need to consider infrastructure and renewable energy. I know some parties are sceptical about phasing in renewable energy, and you know what, I am very sceptical about whether they should be trusted with anything more complicated than a potato peeler, let alone anywhere near government.
We should also not forget jobs, they are quite necessary to generate the money that keeps the economy afloat… and possibly even help economic growth. I pay my taxes and you pay your taxes and most people pay their taxes but there are some people who are “non domiciled” for tax reasons who like to be in our country but don’t like paying our taxes.
Of course, it is one person - one vote and you need to weigh up your priorities to what the different Parties and Candidates are offering. And then vote the way that you feel will make the difference that you want. But please, do vote. Don’t rely on someone else to vote because they might rely on you to vote. And besides, remember the Suffragettes… they died for the right to vote.
So get out there and vote! The polls are open between 7am and 10pm.
Until tomorrow morning with an election results update. (I know, that just made your day knowing I’m spamming you again in 24 hours!)
Henry
P.S. We are hosting an event on 19 July in Central London with a focus on the new Government and their planning policies. Please do visit our events page more information and to sign up.