Anna Clarke
@annaclarke.bsky.social
Policy and Public Affairs at The Housing Forum. Interested in UK housing policy, planning, economics, housebuilding, energy, social policy. Views are my own. Cambridge based. https://housingforum.org.uk/
It bewilders me that Government can't see that. They thought leaving the EU would make people happy and crush UKIP as an electoral force. Now they think reducing migration is the answer to defeating Reform. But that wouldn't actually fix anything either. So where do you go next?
December 1, 2025 at 3:26 PM
It bewilders me that Government can't see that. They thought leaving the EU would make people happy and crush UKIP as an electoral force. Now they think reducing migration is the answer to defeating Reform. But that wouldn't actually fix anything either. So where do you go next?
People don't see *immigration rates*. They see headlines and social media posts about (generally Muslim) *immigrants*. And immigration rates have only a very small impact on the number of Muslims/immigrants already here.
December 1, 2025 at 3:09 PM
People don't see *immigration rates*. They see headlines and social media posts about (generally Muslim) *immigrants*. And immigration rates have only a very small impact on the number of Muslims/immigrants already here.
We really are in that hole. It costs a lot more to build a house than the average household can afford to pay for a house.
December 1, 2025 at 3:05 PM
We really are in that hole. It costs a lot more to build a house than the average household can afford to pay for a house.
If you exclude (or don't pay for) childcare costs, then absolutely yes. They eat more, pay for transport, entrance fees, leisure, clothes etc.
But if you're paying for full time childcare for your baby/toddler, then no teens don't cost more than that.
But if you're paying for full time childcare for your baby/toddler, then no teens don't cost more than that.
December 1, 2025 at 10:09 AM
If you exclude (or don't pay for) childcare costs, then absolutely yes. They eat more, pay for transport, entrance fees, leisure, clothes etc.
But if you're paying for full time childcare for your baby/toddler, then no teens don't cost more than that.
But if you're paying for full time childcare for your baby/toddler, then no teens don't cost more than that.
We did stuff on costs last year @housingforum.org.uk. Planning a follow up in the new year on how you might bring them down housingforum.org.uk/reports/key-...
The Cost of Building a House : The Housing Forum
How has the thing we need most become unaffordable? A new report by The Housing Forum answers the all-important question: How much does it cost to build a house? The Housing Forum, is a cross-sector b...
housingforum.org.uk
December 1, 2025 at 9:46 AM
We did stuff on costs last year @housingforum.org.uk. Planning a follow up in the new year on how you might bring them down housingforum.org.uk/reports/key-...
Yes, exactly that.
December 1, 2025 at 9:44 AM
Yes, exactly that.
And yes, the higher interest rates are a problem for developers (SMEs especially), particularly when combined with a slower planning system and additional delays because of the new building safety approval process.
December 1, 2025 at 9:43 AM
And yes, the higher interest rates are a problem for developers (SMEs especially), particularly when combined with a slower planning system and additional delays because of the new building safety approval process.
It's the change that's the problem. Years of very low interest rates saw huge house price rises (& increases in construction standards, costs and taxes). Now that house prices are falling (in real terms), housebuilding isn't viable in a lot of places.
December 1, 2025 at 9:39 AM
It's the change that's the problem. Years of very low interest rates saw huge house price rises (& increases in construction standards, costs and taxes). Now that house prices are falling (in real terms), housebuilding isn't viable in a lot of places.
The end of a 14 year period of really low interest rates has had just as big an impact on house prices as the global financial crisis - so hard to turn policy into delivery right now.
December 1, 2025 at 9:31 AM
The end of a 14 year period of really low interest rates has had just as big an impact on house prices as the global financial crisis - so hard to turn policy into delivery right now.
They would need to set the limit lower if they wanted to raise enough cash to pay for the admin - there's very few £2m+ houses outside England (more or less none in Northern Ireland)
November 30, 2025 at 10:21 AM
They would need to set the limit lower if they wanted to raise enough cash to pay for the admin - there's very few £2m+ houses outside England (more or less none in Northern Ireland)
Yes I believe some energy intensive industries have moved activities overseas because it's cheaper. But I'm less sure of the details.
November 29, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Yes I believe some energy intensive industries have moved activities overseas because it's cheaper. But I'm less sure of the details.
Some continued roll out of gas central heating during that period in the UK - not so many houses heated via electric heaters in 2024, compared with 2000.
November 29, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Some continued roll out of gas central heating during that period in the UK - not so many houses heated via electric heaters in 2024, compared with 2000.
You've clearly not yet reached the stage when your teenage kids go off to "vintage fairs" and come back with clothes exactly like you once wore and possibly even still own....
November 29, 2025 at 11:51 AM
You've clearly not yet reached the stage when your teenage kids go off to "vintage fairs" and come back with clothes exactly like you once wore and possibly even still own....
Yes. Losers always shout louder than winners
November 29, 2025 at 11:20 AM
Yes. Losers always shout louder than winners
We could. The Welsh did a revaluation. I'm not sure that revaluing only on resale would be a great idea - might inhibit the market in areas where selling would cause a big increase in the council tax bill.
November 29, 2025 at 10:57 AM
We could. The Welsh did a revaluation. I'm not sure that revaluing only on resale would be a great idea - might inhibit the market in areas where selling would cause a big increase in the council tax bill.
I think it's sensible. Employment rights aren't much use if employers are too nervous to give you a job in the first place.
November 29, 2025 at 10:53 AM
I think it's sensible. Employment rights aren't much use if employers are too nervous to give you a job in the first place.
Top end of the market is generally reckoned to have fallen more than the market overall, so 15% not totally implausible. (Though this is of course mainly because of the higher interest rates since 2022, not "Labour")
November 29, 2025 at 10:32 AM
Top end of the market is generally reckoned to have fallen more than the market overall, so 15% not totally implausible. (Though this is of course mainly because of the higher interest rates since 2022, not "Labour")
Oh yes, I'm not trying to defend Farage in the slightest - the accusations seem quite genuine. It was just that specific point around denying antisemitism being proof that you're an antisemite that I was questioning.
November 29, 2025 at 10:24 AM
Oh yes, I'm not trying to defend Farage in the slightest - the accusations seem quite genuine. It was just that specific point around denying antisemitism being proof that you're an antisemite that I was questioning.
That does sound a bit of a catch 22 - if you *were* (just for the sake of argument) accused of antisemitism, and you deny it - that would prove you're an antisemite, because you've just accused Jews of lying?
November 29, 2025 at 10:20 AM
That does sound a bit of a catch 22 - if you *were* (just for the sake of argument) accused of antisemitism, and you deny it - that would prove you're an antisemite, because you've just accused Jews of lying?
But if you were teaching at school you'd have to cover the needs of the large number of kids who are never going to have much to invest. Budgeting (which is taught, to a degree), benefits and how to open a small savings account are more relevant to many.
November 29, 2025 at 10:10 AM
But if you were teaching at school you'd have to cover the needs of the large number of kids who are never going to have much to invest. Budgeting (which is taught, to a degree), benefits and how to open a small savings account are more relevant to many.
Would be difficult to measure - What's a "good" outcome? Is saving money necessary good if you're going without currently? Investing in stocks and shares brings risk which some enjoy, but others find stressful.
November 29, 2025 at 10:06 AM
Would be difficult to measure - What's a "good" outcome? Is saving money necessary good if you're going without currently? Investing in stocks and shares brings risk which some enjoy, but others find stressful.
That doesn't really surprise me - school is just too early to be learning most of this stuff and you're not going to remember it years down the line.
November 29, 2025 at 9:59 AM
That doesn't really surprise me - school is just too early to be learning most of this stuff and you're not going to remember it years down the line.
My parents downsized from a 4 bed to a 3. But then realised it was too small for family visiting so got an extension built to go back up to 4 bedrooms.
November 29, 2025 at 9:41 AM
My parents downsized from a 4 bed to a 3. But then realised it was too small for family visiting so got an extension built to go back up to 4 bedrooms.