Gordon Brown And Affordable Housing

Fraser Nelson, on the Coffee House blog of The Spectator:

There is a housing development in Brockley, south east London, with an extraordinary piece of graffiti. “Thanks to Gordon Brown, I will never buy a house”

Brown’s easy-money policy at the Treasury led the Bank of England to chase a dodgy inflation measure - therefore, making credit too cheap, and, therefore, inflating an asset bubble. Also Brown’s failure to reform planning laws put an artificial restriction on supply of UK housing in the face of ever-rising demand.

Is Brown entirely to blame for housing boom? Not even I would go that far. But this isn’t the point. If many people believe this to be true, it becomes in itself a feature of our political landscape.

Ask anyone campaigning in Crewe right now, or anyone who tread doorsteps for the local elections. Pensioners, borrowers, teachers, soldiers – each has their own bone to pick with him. He has somehow become a tartan lightening rod absorbing the nation’s anger.

For as long as Brown stays, the more resentment there will be against this PM whom no one elected. This is why Brown’s survival is vital to Tory chances at the next election.

Video: Peter Tatchell and Elise Benjamin on the Green Party's housing campaign, calling for at least 50% affordable housing