Latest editorial
Backbenchers were left fuming yesterday after pro-EU PM David Cameron opted to protect the hated bedroom tax rather than legally bind the next government to a referendum on British membership of the bosses’ bloc.
A tug of war between the coalition partners erupted after the Lib Dems refused to back the Tory legislation unless the government supported West Cornwall MP Andrew George’s Affordable Homes Bill, which would have chipped away at cuts to benefits for council and social tenants with a spare room.
A visibly furious Mr George rounded on Mr Cameron at Prime Ministers’ questions, accusing him of “abusing the privilege of executive power” by maneouvring to deny “the clear will of this house” and strike down his attempt to reverse the bedroom tax.
CAROL WILCOX argues for the proper implementation of the land value tax, which could see unused plots sold off and landlords priced out of landlordism, potentially resolving the housing and planning crises
Labour must not allow unelected members of the upper house to erode a single provision of the Employment Rights Bill, argues ANDY MCDONALD MP
Sixty Red-Green seats in a hung parliament could force Labour to choose between the death of centrism or accommodation with the left — but only if enough of us join the Greens by July 31 and support Zack Polanski’s leadership, writes JAMES MEADWAY
GLYN ROBBINS celebrates how tenant-led campaigning forced the government to drop Pay to Stay, fixed-term tenancies and council home sell-offs under Cameron — but warns that Labour’s faith in private developers will require renewed resistance