Letter of the week: How not to fix the housing crisis

Make it easier for local authorities to take control of empty properties, to then develop them and rent them out. Currently, if the owner of an empty property can’t be traced nothing can happen without massive legal cost and delays. Councils don’t have the money to take this on.
Simon P Croft 

Part of the problem is that the UK government still pours investment into infrastructure, industry and jobs in the south-east. People would reasonably want to live in/move to Cumbria if rail/road/industry were in place there.
David Morris

There have been two successful housing projects in the UK, both deserving of significant praise and attention. First, the Victorian/Edwardian house, featuring strong architectural value and the worldwide wonder of the box sash window. Second, the council house, featuring sturdy, well-built houses with space between and around housing schemes, along with huge back gardens for the growing of food.

Don’t allow social housing to be a “tack on” to detached houses for rich folk; build schemes with strong architecture and incorporate local infrastructure. People should be able to leave their homes on foot instead of a car and access public transport or local services.

Maybe the best way of doing this is to create new villages or small towns instead of constantly adding on to existing ones.
Keith Brisley

Re: “Your car is spying on you,” by Caroline Marie, TNW #485

Bring back buttons in cars? Yes please! It is not possible to navigate three levels on a central screen without taking your eyes off the road if you want to adjust the air con, as for example you have to do in my wife’s BYD.

It is the most comfortable car I have ever driven but has way too many options and provides so much data that has nothing to do with driving the vehicle.
Stuart Dawson

Re: “We need an inquiry into the Russians and Brexit,” by Paul Mason TNW #485

Successive governments, of both political colours, have taken the view that if someone wants to migrate to the UK and bring their billions with them, we should not question where they got the money from and what they want in exchange for their platinum passport. Hence we have massive inflows of money obtained through, at best, dubious means, and, at worst, through downright theft, mostly by Russian oligarchs or powerful people from countries formerly under Soviet influence.

We have in effect become the money-laundering capital of the world. On top of that, we have politicians accepting very questionable donations from people who claim to be British but who feel unable to live here and pay taxes
Janet Bayford

Vladimir Putin has stolen a 10-year or more march on everyone in the successful undermining of the glue that keeps society together.

Garry Kasparov made a clear case for this view in 2015 with his book Winter Is Coming.
Keith Brisley

Suggested Reading

The dangerous rise of Restore

James Ball

Re: “The dangerous rise of Restore,” by James Ball, TNW #485

Restore will never lead the country, and will never become a “force” beyond a few viral tweets. As James Ball writes, their greatest threat to the country at large is that their existence automatically provides legitimacy to Reform as a more “reasonable” option. They are a well-placed, and very convenient, red line for Nigel Farage as we edge towards 2029.
Perry Hewitt

It is essential that both Labour and Conservatives accept that the two-party system is now gone, together with the opportunity for majoritarian governments. It is also essential that the Tory Party puts a stake in the ground and promises never to work with Reform or Restore.
Tony Marshall

I’m really annoyed with the Greens and the Lib Dems for contesting Makerfield at all. If the opinion polls stay anything like where they are now by the time of the next general election, we should demand that the “progressive” (and I use the term very loosely) parties stand aside for each other in every damn constituency.

I want to see the right wiped completely off the board. We cannot allow fascism a foothold.
Simon Garrett

The clampdown on foreign funding for political parties needs to be enacted ASAP, to prevent the likes of Elon Musk funding these idiots. But we need to go further, and place very strict limits on funding from UK donors too, to prevent wealthy UK-based far right donors poisoning our politics. 

Then tackle social media. Don’t just ban it for U16s, block something as poisonous as X altogether. There are legitimate limits to freedom of speech if it’s being used to stir up hatred and division. 
Alexander Blackburn

Re: “Keep Keir and carry on,” by Patience Wheatcroft, TNW #485

I believe there is merit in keeping Keir Starmer in a future cabinet, but as foreign secretary. He seems more suited to the role of dealing with foreign leaders than dealing with the people of Britain.
Andy McGregor

Suggested Reading

The right wing media are losing their minds over Andy Burnham

Rats in a Sack

Re: Rats in a Sack on Makerfield, TNW #485

I very much doubt whether Andy Burnham can win this. The choice of constituency is an odd one – it’s a Reform stronghold, if the local election results are anything to go by.

I make this prediction: if the Dumb Plumber wins, he’ll quit within weeks after discovering he can’t hack it. 
Lotte Hughes

Is Burnham the New Messiah? Nah, just another “flexible” politician looking for a shot at the top job.
David Smith

Re: “The Pope v big tech” by Paola Totaro, TNW #485

My admiration for Pope Leo soared when I read Paola Totaro’s report of his regular Wordle playing. However, I have sympathy for his brother, John, who faces the challenge of defeating a man who surely has God on his side.
David Jeffrey

Below the Line

Re: Alastair Campbell’s Diary, TNW #486

I found Alastair’s outburst at a Trump supporter perfectly reasonable. I too would have found it difficult to restrain myself from reacting the way he did. Donny’s American supporters should be told what we think of him and forcefully – after all, they don’t hold back telling us how they feel about us.
Adam Primhak

Just back from Canada where I met not one person with anything good to say about their southern neighbours.

Conscientious objecting to travelling there or purchasing anything American is almost a full-time sport. Head that way some time, although not to north Texas, as the Canadian in the room has long called Alberta.
Lynn Walker

Re: “Should we relax about phone use in the cinema?” by Marie Le Conte, TNW #485

Making the cinema or theatre more “manageable” for those “who will find the experience less daunting if they can tune out once in a while?” Here’s the trick: don’t go to such performances – particularly theatre – if you cannot focus sufficiently. 

Cretinism gave us Brexit, Boris Johnson, Nigel Farage. Such ignorance should not be excused.
Simon Champion