Are NIMBYs or migration driving the UK’s housing shortage? Opinion NIMBYs and rising migration have both been blamed for the UK's housing shortage. What's the actual problem, asks Ben Hopkinson.
Right to Buy has been a huge success, of course the left hates it Opinion Labour leadership contenders’ claims that Right to Buy is to blame for the housing crisis are absurd, says Ben Hopkinson Last week in a 5,000 word polemic, Tony Blair accused the Labour government of being parked firmly in the party’s ‘soft left’ comfort zone. Perhaps nothing reflects this more than the leadership contender’s short-sighted clamour [...]
Labour will regret the Renters’ Rights Act Opinion There were celebrations across the Labour frontbench as the Renters’ Rights Act came into force today. That won't last for long, writes Ben Hopkinson.
Why can’t London build housing? October 20, 2025 London has the UK’s least affordable housing and it’s building the least, Sadiq Khan’s affordable housing targets and the Building Safety Regulator are largely to blame, says Ben Hopkinson Housing in London has been in crisis for decades. Unaffordable rents have kept professionals in their 20s living with their parents, made it harder for families [...]
Labour’s new towns plan is not the answer to the housing crisis May 22, 2024 Solving the housing crisis means building near where people want to live, not creating white elephants in the middle of nowhere, says Ben Hopkinson Angela Rayner yesterday announced Labour’s plans for the next generation of new towns. Labour are planning to build these developments with high standards of design, quality, affordability, green spaces and infrastructure. [...]
