EUSTON WE HAVE SEVERAL PROBLEMS

Earlier this week, the NAO published their latest report on HS2.

For anyone interested in major infrastructure projects and associated development, the report makes for very grim reading, especially for the many residents and businesses living close to Euston station. The summary is only nine pages long. But if you haven’t been up there to look around, it really is a depressing site.

40 BILLS

British politics loves an eponymous legacy. Amendments (see Dubs, Rooker-Wise) formulas (see Barnett), political party funding (see Short, Cranborne) and then there are good old conventions, on which our constitution relies heavily. Lord Salisbury (or to give him his full title, the Third Marquess of Salisbury) lent his name to one such convention which might well become rather critical to Keir Starmer’s government in the coming months.

LONDON'S HOLY TRINITY

London has a Labour Government, Labour Mayor and Labour-controlled London Councils for the first time since May 2006. In our adversarial politics, this alignment – a political Holy Trinity – has the potential to make a big difference as politicians of the same persuasion generally work better together. Both Ken Livingstone and Boris Johnson claim to have achieved more as Mayor during the periods with their own parties in government.

THE RED DAWN IS UPON US

The votes are counted, the results are (nearly all) in and there’s no other word to describe Labour’s performance other than ‘landslide’. Try hard to think of alternatives, flick through the Thesaurus, but ultimately it will always come back to the ‘l’ word.

TIME FOR THE PEOPLE TO DECIDE

It’s six weeks since Rishi Sunak first stepped out of the famous door of 10 Downing Street to fire the starting pistol on a General Election campaign that, frankly, felt like it had already been in full swing for some months – if not years. Now there’s just over twelve hours until the polls open.

TURNING THE SHIRES YELLOW AND RED

It might surprise loyal LDN readers, but I do occasionally stray beyond the Greater London boundary. Just last Saturday, I ventured into Hampshire, spending the day in Basingstoke, a town that has been blue for as long as anyone can remember – failing even to succumb to New Labour’s charms in 1997.

HOW TO LOSE VOTES AND ALIENATE PEOPLE

With the Euros in full swing, it’s fair to say that football rather than politics might be top of many people’s priorities. And the parties aren’t totally immune to the public mood – canvass sessions no doubt routinely suspended to avoid door knocking during key matches. Woe betide any candidate dragging a fan away from the TV just as the ball hits the back of the net – a surefire way to alienate the voters!

MANIFESTO MANIA

Today’s LDN is sandwiched between the publication of party manifestos. We have had the Lib Dems, the Tories, the Greens and a surprise one from the SDP (remember them?).  We highlight some key points in today’s edition. Tomorrow comes Labour’s and we will do a deep dive into this shortly, given the probability of a Labour government come 5 July. 

ARE MINDS MADE UP?

Heading into week two of the campaign and many staples of the General Election bingo card can be ticked off. Battle buses launched – tick. Labour leader quizzed on whether they’d press the nuclear button – tick. Candidates kissing babies – tick. Parties getting in a tizz over last minute candidate selections – tick. Politicians try to look sporty for the cameras – tick. War on woke declared – tick.

ONE DOWN, FIVE TO GO

In the blink of an eye, a week has flown by in the General Election campaign. Was it really only seven days ago that a rain-soaked Rishi Sunak appeared outside 10 Downing Street to fire the starting pistol in an election everyone anticipated but few expected?

AWAY THEY GO!

Many from the property sector, including a strong contingent from LCA, were in Leeds this week for UKREiiF. With the industry desperately craving stability, the looming General Election was already the hot discussion topic up in West Yorkshire.

THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME

Sadiq Khan has only ever dealt with a Conservative government during all of his time as Mayor. Both his predecessors had periods with their own party in government – both say this allowed them to get more done.