I have a dark secret. I did not want Oona King to win at the last election. I did not realise how dangerous the new member was. I was angry about Iraq at the time. Had I realised that supporting Oona would have been preferable to supporting a candidate well to the right of most Tories, I would have personally canvassed in Bethnal Green.

But, I want Oona back in politics. Post-2005, not only have I changed my politics, but she doesn't fit easily into the Blairite role. Luckily, we can look forward to at least one good result in 2010 (perhaps an isolated result, but we should fight to make sure that it isn't), and RESPECT will be kicked out of the East End.

However, we already have a great candidate in Bethnal Green, and I hope Jim Fitzpatrick kicks Galloway's ass in Poplar. So I have another suggestion. She should be our candidate for mayor in 2012.

Caroline Flint left Cabinet today clutching her State of Housing market speaking notes, and the snappers got a pic of them. Nothing really shocking there, but I bet Caroline would have wished for a more controlled press release! (I hope this does not distract too much from Alistair Darling's wonderful announcement that personal tax allowances will go up by £600 to compensate for the 10p rate change.) Amongst other things they predict "Given present trends ... sizeable falls in [house] prices later this year - at best down 5%-10% year-on-year." She intends to announce extra help for first-time buyers tomorrow, mainly by extending shared equity schemes.

 

Excellent, if prices keep falling at 2.5% per month for a year or two, housing will be affordable again!

(I started writing a reply to another thread on the Flint speech but then thought it might be better if this was posted as a separate entry. It details how we came to today's situation where 50%+ of people in social housing are in the NEET group)

Caroline Flint's interview with the Guardian reported yesterday poses fundamental questions about Labour party policy-making. OK, No.10 backed away from endorsement, but that's not the point. The deadline for submissions to the Party's second stage policy making process is 28 February 2008.

It should not surprise us that again New Labour is claiming that all of society’s ills can be solved through getting people back to work. However, it certainly should disappoint us that this latest attack is made on those most vulnerable in society.

For the latest information on Ken Livingstone's re-election campaign visit: www.londonforken.co.uk

Mayor of London Ken Livingstone today launched his draft London housing strategy in which he calls for an increase in the number of family homes being built in London

Sorry to be a bore and blog twice in the same day, and both times with a green tinge, but I was catching up with my reading over lunch and came across this. Grrr.

<h1 class="heading">Brown backs Cruddas revolution of Labour party From the 'Times' today.
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One aspect of the Hodge affair which has not received attention is the fact that Margaret's husband, Henry, is involved in immigration decision making.

In 1997, Peter Mandelson said “I say to the doubters, judge us after ten years in office. For one of the fruits of that success will be that Britain has become a more equal society. However, we will have achieved that result by many different routes, not just the redistribution of cash from rich to poor, which others choose as their own limited version of egalitarianism…” (Peter Mandelson, Labour’s Next Steps: Tackling Social Exclusion, Fabian Society 1997)

Margaret Hodge has appeared once again, making some comments regarding housing and immigration.

According to Labour members polled by You.Gov on behalf of Jon Cruddas, affordable housing should be at the top of the party's new agenda.

This  was   in yesterday's  Daily Mirror. AMICUS today launched a  campaign against this draconian  proposal.

3 MILLION TENANTS FACE BOOT
EXCLUSIVE: KELLY SHAKE-UP PLAN
By Bob Roberts Deputy Political Editor 19/02/2007
THREE million council house tenants face losing the right to stay in their homes for life.

Housing