Freedom Politics

“Why mass immigration explains the housing crisis” : if UKIP had written this there would be an explosion of rage amongst the ostriches!  “By Lionel Shriver - Spectator It’s the one reason for this worsening problem that blinkered liberals choose to ignore Ever since Theresa May’s clarion address of the UK’s housing shortage (and how many successive PMs have embarked on the same brave heave-ho?) countless comment pieces have addressed the real problem that drives the disjunction between supply and demand. Nimbyism. Complex, protracted planning permission. Developer land banking. Rich Chinese and Russians investing in unoccupied properties as three-dimensional bank accounts. Excessive protection of green belts. Second homeowners. Empty properties the state should confiscate. The catastrophic sell-off of social housing. A wilful confusion about what the word ‘affordable’ means. Yet when two statistics are out of whack, it behoves us to look at them both. All the abo...

The independent Labour Peer, Lord Stoddart of Swindon has criticised the Electoral Commission for what he believes is their ‘cravenly caving in’ to pressure from Remainer MPs and activists over the re-investigation of Vote Leave’s funding of ‘BeLeave’ during the referendum campaign. Lord Stoddart said: “It is my understanding that the Electoral Commission, not only approved the donation to BeLeave, at the time, but it has already subsequently looked into this issue and found nothing wrong.  I find it very disappointing that they appear to have cravenly caved-in to pressure from the Remain lobby and decided to investigate again. The Electoral Commission is supposed to be an independent body and should not be seen to be influenced by political pressure. “It is very dangerous for our democracy for the Commission to give the impression that it takes action based on who shouts loudest in the political arena.  They should not allow themselves to become part of the ...

This week, Stuart Agnew MEP sent this very interesting answer to one of his constituents who wrote to him about the persecution of Catalonian politicians.  It is very illuminating about how the European Parliament goes about its business!: Thank you for your email regarding the treatment of Catalonian politicians. The leader of our EFDD Group in the Parliament, Nigel Farage MEP, frequently talks about the situation in Catalonia when addressing the Parliament Chamber. By virtue of being a Group Leader he has high profile opportunities for speaking time. He only has two and a half minutes, and there are very many competing issues worthy of his attention. However, Catalonia is definitely one of his priorities. The reaction of the other Group Leaders is total silence. They are far from silent, however, whenever there is an opportunity to criticise the Prime Minister of Hungary, which they enthusiastically seize upon. There are regular human rights debates held here with ...