It’s fair to say that the Government has had a tough start to the year having lost their Minister for Corruption due to fears around … corruption.
The Home Secretary has also been forced to announce a new grooming gangs’ inquiry after weeks of pressure from Elon Musk.
Finally, a by-election in Runcorn and Helsby looms as MP Mike Amesbury pleaded guilty to assault.
Added to this are the Chancellor’s woes over a sluggish economy, putting the Government’s pro-growth ambitions at risk.
All in all, not a great start to the year.
Readers of the business pages however may have seen some reasons for the Government, and especially Angela Rayner, to be more cheerful.
The Financial Times yesterday reported that UK housebuilders are bullish about growth following Labour’s reforms to the planning process. Taylor Wimpey and other housebuilders have endorsed the government’s measures, saying that they will boost growth.
Jennie Daley, chief executive of FTSE 100 housebuilder Taylor Wimpey is quoted as saying:
“I am not deaf to some of the criticism that is being made. But in the planning realm they have acted swiftly. I have not seen a government act this quickly . . . in many, many years.”
The Head of Residential services at Savills has gone as far to call Angela Rayner “the goddess of reform” with a “genuine interest in building homes”, a not-so-subtle dig at recent housing ministers under the Conservative Government.
Although the same companies are concerned about pressures on building costs, the general feeling seems to be that Labour’s economic policies should be given the chance.
Politically, this will be good news for Labour, who are looking to make delivery a key part of their offer to the electorate over the next four years, just in time for a byelection and local elections this year.