What bad would Johnson have to do...

[cojak]

Yep, following tax changes to rental income a couple of years ago, landlords have changed their business model and in my area are switching to serviced accommodation.

To make money from this they are squeezing more units into their available spaces, to the extent that some bungalows are being converted to houses and split into 2 apartments. Planning permission is proving remarkably easy to obtain.

You can imagine how well that's going down with the street's existing residents...

[mallisarealperson]

I still find it strange in the UK that people complain about our (effectively) 2 party system, and how both Tory and Labour are rubbish, but keep voting for them. I'm not saying the LibDems or Greens are the answer, but it's certainly not a Tory or Labour majority either. Personally, I'd prefer we have a coalition and parliament have to really fight to get correct policy through, rather than a couple at the top whipping the rest of their MPs to vote a certain way, even if it goes against their constituents.

The way our parliament currently works, we could get shot of 90% of MPs and just vote for a party leader who then pulls together a cabinet to run the country for 4 years (like in the US), because that's how it works anyway.

Agree with this.

[mallisarealperson]

Yep, following tax changes to rental income a couple of years ago, landlords have changed their business model and in my area are switching to serviced accommodation.

To make money from this they are squeezing more units into their available spaces, to the extent that some bungalows are being converted to houses and split into 2 apartments. Planning permission is proving remarkably easy to obtain.

You can imagine how well that's going down with the street's existing residents...

Sounds like North America. But they have houses big enough to split.

Duplex and four plex.

[d000hg]

The problem that Tories have - and they have this issue in my area - is that they want to allow their mates to build on green spaces and build what they like.

The amount of houses our progressive friends claim we need to build this is pretty inevitable.

my area is a staunch Labour seat. Recently, they decided to build themselves a new HQ and big carpark not just on green land, but historically protected green land in the heart of the city they are supposed to be working to reduce traffic in. So to claim this is a Tory trait is a little unfair. It's the trait of anyone who is in the position to do so.

[d000hg]

some bungalows are being converted to houses .

Literally building another floor on top? Or very low ceilings

[vetran]

Oh you mean this - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-englan...herts-57472032


The Liberal Democrats have pulled off a stunning by-election victory, overturning a 16,000 majority in a seat that has always voted Conservative.

Leader Ed Davey celebrated by knocking over a wall of blue bricks, claiming his party was now the "main threat" to the Tories in many areas.

The party's candidate Sarah Green won by 8,028 votes from the Tories, with the Green Party in third place.

Labour had the worst by-election result in the party's history, with 622 votes.

The result is a major boost for the Liberal Democrats after their poor performance at the 2019 general election and brings their total number of MPs at Westminster to 12.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson described the result for his party as "disappointing".

Go back to your constituencies and get ready to disappear.

[SueEllen]

The amount of houses our progressive friends claim we need to build this is pretty inevitable.

my area is a staunch Labour seat. Recently, they decided to build themselves a new HQ and big carpark not just on green land, but historically protected green land in the heart of the city they are supposed to be working to reduce traffic in. So to claim this is a Tory trait is a little unfair. It's the trait of anyone who is in the position to do so.

Probably counts as a brown field site.

Gardens and playgrounds are brown field so that probably is a well.

Some London councils are planning on building social housing on housing estate gardens and playgrounds. The councils just happen to be Labour....

The folk in the Chilterns are up in arms because the planning is for building on green field sites.