General Election 2024

Also you've grouped a range of issues under a theme. He has consistently been excellent at messaging and using any particular issue to push his world view.

You have scraped the barrel with several of those but yeah, if he's important to you then cool. Given he wasn't single handedly responsible for Brexit, I am struggling to think of all ways he's impacted my life as much as actual Westminster elected politicians.

There is some sort of joke about Farage being marmite and Sunak being toast, but I can't be bothered to formulate it

He made UKIP mainstream. Got into the EP and then leveraged the funding system to expand UKIP. If UKIP had a random nobody who sections of the population didn't relate to and all of the media didn't love they would have never posed a threat to the Conservatives. If they didn't pose a threat to the Conservatives, Cameron wouldn't have called the election. Neither would the ERG lot would have never had the juice they did when they did.

I'm not generally a believer of the the Great Man theory, but at certain points someone comes along who pushed and shaped things because of who they are, whether that's Martin Luther or Hitler. Sure someone else could have done it and the ingredients were there. But sometimes the way an individual operatates is what changes things.

From a UK perspective he and Blair have probably had the greatest impact on my life, and imo our society.

got to agree that farage is quite consequential, as much as he is odious.

Has he ever pretended to be a cat though?

No, but he does have history with a cetacean

Martin Luther or Hitler.

Norman Wisdom.

Tory member of the Senedd Laura Ann Jones bumps her expenses:

https://x.com/JolyonMaugham/status/1801868516015915049

Oh for sure, they could definitely attract younger voters, but at the moment they are so focused on retaining their base, which is white, ageing and suburban, that they offer nothing to younger people.

Young people in the UK are less likely to vote than older people, so you can see why they are neglected, but the country faces fundamental problems for young people that will need to be addressed by the next few government to ensure a level of social cohesion.

Sorry for the at but this thread moves fast .
I want to say “but the money in the Conservative Party won’t let the headbangers take over” but well. Here we are.

I don't see house building ever not being an issue when large private firms hoover up plots and control the pace at which houses are built. All this is for the purposes of their long term plans of sustainable profit enlargement and house scarcity price increases. Not making nice efficient houses available.

Also, the longer they hold off the more likely any old planning application gets approved just for " more houses have been built". This is why we end up with 700k studio flats and massive estates with only 12 detached mansions with 7 bedrooms.

A time limit, 'the applicant for this planning permission must complete the allowed buildings within 3(?) years', on PP might resolve some aspects of land banking.

As a south Derby resident, I think there is zero chance it doesn't stay labour, its been labour since the constituency was created in 1950. I know in my area however that the reform candidate was popular as he went out of his way to help with a planning issue that had the nimbys up in arms a few months ago

Reform took all the councillors in Alvaston at the local elections recently, so now have 6 out of the cities 51 councillors

When they closed his account?

I am struggling to think of all ways he's impacted my life as much as actual Westminster elected politicians.

This list parliamentary term has been large wasted through large amounts of time and political capital expanded on getting Rwanda passed, without Farage constantly banging on about small boats and taking back control for a decade, would that of been the case? Cabinet members presenting and having constant appearance on GBNews, would there of been an audience to support a dedicated station like that without Farage, I don't know but seems hard to imagine

I want to say “but the money in the Conservative Party won’t let the headbangers take over“

And yet the current pack on manoeuvres (according to the Graun) are Priti Patel, Suella Braverman, Robert Jenrick, Kemi Badenoch, Penny Mordaunt and Grant Shapps…

Yeah I think you've summed it up perfectly - JRM going on a right wing talkshow.....zero impact on my life.

That’s kind of my point.

If there are 'enemies of the people' they are the 'moderate' One Nation Tories like Damian Green, (deputy PM to Teresa May), who are silently allowing brexitty entryists to deliver the husk of the Conservative party to Reform.

That wouldn't stop land banking, the companies hold the land till they want to work their next development, this prevents competition from developing the land and restricts availability inflating prices.

Are you advocating compulsory asset purchases?

No, but a Land Tax on underdeveloped plots of land could work.

Silly question but how can a big house building company be having hard times? Seems like building houses should be like having a magic money tree..

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cmllreerzmro

Most of the 'better' one nation tories got purged out by Johnson. But there is a feeling that the remaining more moderate ones will be the majority of those that retain their seats.
If someone from that wing becomes leader there might be more pressure on labour next election if they can move back to the centre. If its one of the headbangers then there will be an ongoing war between them and Reform and I can't see much of a way back. Lots will depend who survives this election I feel.

Define undeveloped. Woodland, farmland, nature reserves?

Most of the development land round here is owned by housing firms or pension funds but still being actively farmed by the original farms.