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This “Right to Regenerate” is an asset-strippers’ charter couched in fluffy language. Not difficult to see where ‘the public’ having the right to develop ‘vacant public land’ is likely to lead. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/right-to-regenerate-to-turn-derelict-buildings-into-homes-and-community-assets
Keep a watchful eye on the quieter corners of your local parks.
At the same time as making it easier for developers to help themselves to bits of your local park, Jenrick wants to make it harder to remove statues and change street names. https://twitter.com/christopherhope/status/1350573463321391104
Here we have the culture war in microcosm. You get to vote on stuff that doesn’t really make much material difference but you don’t get to vote on whether developers can force the sale of a piece of public land.
What would be really funny is if, after all the procedural obstacles he had introduced, people then voted in large numbers to remove statues and change street names.
I’m actually not in favour of gesture politics. I think it’s a pointless diversion. But I’d vote to remove statues if I thought it would wipe the smug smile off his face.
Also worth remembering that most Conservative MPs don’t really give a toss about all this. They are more socially liberal than the average voter. This is cover for their real agenda which is economic. https://flipchartfairytales.wordpress.com/2020/07/01/why-conservatives-love-the-culture-war/
Marx spotted this in 1852: "The Tories in England long imagined that they were enthusiastic about monarchy, the church, and the beauties of the old English Constitution, until the day of danger wrung from them the confession that they are enthusiastic only about ground rent."
OK. Sunday lunchtime rant over.
