Sinking the Unsinkable, Chapter 5
Posted: April 12, 2012 Filed under: Uncategorized Leave a commentThe story so far: The accommodation shortage is reaching crisis point aboard the RMS Torytanic despite a series of new initiatives by assistant purser Mr Shipps. Several icebergs have been spotted.
Ship’s journal of Captain D.W.D Cameron, Esq, Friday January 13: Some of the more superstitious passengers insisted on dining in their cabins this evening. I simply cannot understand their attitude when they are aboard a ship as well-appointed and unsinkable as the RMS Torytanic.
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Top of the hill
Posted: April 10, 2012 Filed under: Energy efficiency Leave a commentTwice before governments have attempted to force through improvements to the energy efficiency of existing homes and then backed down. Now the backlash is building again.
In both 2002 and 2006 the plan was to amend Part L of the Building Regulations so that home owners building an extension or a conservatory or replacing the windows or the boiler would also have to address the efficiency of the rest of the house. Both times vested interests and political cowardice killed the idea off.
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Sinking the Unsinkable, Chapter 4
Posted: April 9, 2012 Filed under: Uncategorized Leave a commentThe story so far: It’s been far from plain sailing for the RMS Torytanic as the officers struggle to cope with dissent in steerage and rebellion in first class. There’s trouble in the engine room too but chief engineer Osborne has promised Captain Cameron the ship can handle the stormy weather ahead.
Ship’s journal of Captain D.W.D Cameron, Esq, Wednesday December 7: Problems in first class. The chief steward Mr Duncan Smith tells me that some of the well-heeled object to our plans to charge those in steerage extra if they refuse to share their hammocks. I’ve had a word with the drinks steward, chap named Freud, seems very capable, and he’s promised to keep an eye on the situation.
Repeating the same mistake?
Posted: April 5, 2012 Filed under: Homelessness, Housing benefit 7 CommentsI am getting an appalling sense of déjà vu reading a story in today’s Telegraph that ‘young unemployed may be forced to live with mum and dad’.
The ‘radical proposal’ is apparently being worked on by Downing Street and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) as ‘part of a drive to make sure people are better off working than on benefits’.
Sinking the Unsinkable, Chapter 3
Posted: April 5, 2012 Filed under: Uncategorized 1 CommentThe story so far: Over-crowding in steerage and a potential mutiny in first class have made it a troubled maiden voyage for Captain Cameron and the RMS Torytanic. Fortunately, assistant purser Mr Shipps has come up a series of new initiatives to help and the captain’s Big Society idea seems to be gaining in popularity…
Ship’s journal of Captain D.W.D. Cameron, Esq, Monday November 21: Into the bowels of the ship for the launch of our new accommodation strategy. Unfortunately my first lieutenant, Mr Clegg, accompanied me but at least we got the chance to swap our bridge officers’ uniforms for the cloth cap and boots of ordinary working men. I really do feel that it sent an important message to our passengers that we intend to do something about the shortage of berths. As I announced a new right to buy for passengers in third-class and a new indemnity scheme for those in second-class to buy newly constructed cabins I got a strong sense of déjà vu. ‘Not to worry, captain,’ said my assistant purser Mr Shipps. ‘These are new and powerful incentives that will sweep away the lazy consensus.’ I’m not sure what he meant but it certainly sounded impressive.
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See you later, regulator
Posted: April 3, 2012 Filed under: Buy to let, Mortgages, Private renting 2 CommentsAnother day, another consultation and still no prospect of regulating buy to let.
The Financial Services Authority (FSA) closed the consultation on its Mortgage Market Review (MMR) on Friday to a chorus of calls from lenders for more flexibility and pleas from organisations like Shelter for no more concessions to the banks. The charity also produced an animation to press its case against reckless mortgage lending.
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Sinking the Unsinkable, Chapter 2
Posted: March 29, 2012 Filed under: Uncategorized 2 CommentsThe second part of my epic tale of the voyage of the RMS Torytanic. The story so far: A shortage of berths has prompted Captain Cameron to promise nothing less than an ‘accommodation revolution’ on the back of the ‘affordable ticket’ scheme dreamed up by his assistant purser, Mr Shipps. It will be iceberg season by the time the Torytanic completes its maiden voyage but fortunately for them she is designed to be unsinkable.
Ship’s journal of Captain D Cameron, Esq, Sunday October 16: The crossing is proving much slower going than my chief engineer, Mr Osborne, promised when we set sail. There are murmurings of discontent from passengers all over the ship and I’m not sure how much longer I can get away with telling them that they are better off than they would be on RMS Labour under Captain Brown or his replacement Mr Miliband. Fortunately, the loud parties organised by our Greek and Italian passengers have given them something else to moan about.
Rearranging the seats
Posted: March 27, 2012 Filed under: Housebuilding, Planning Leave a commentSo the people in Range Rovers in Barbours appear to have beaten the people in Range Rovers in pinstripe suits. But it remains to be seen how much difference the new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) will make to new housing in general and new affordable housing in particular.
After the final version of the document was published on Tuesday, The Telegraph was quick out of the blocks to claim victory for the Barbours and its Hands Off Our Land campaign. It cited explicit protection for the green belt and encouragement for local authorities to use brownfield land first. The National Trust and the Campaign to Protect Rural England both said the government had listened to their concerns (not surprising when documents released at the same time as the NPPF revealed that planning minister Greg Clark met them five times and had another seven meetings with other environmental organisations to discuss planning between July and September).
