Latest editorial
LABOUR has accused ministers of failing to protect the right of communities to object to planning applications after they instructed Tory MPs to abstain in a vote against the developers’ charter.
Only two Tory MPs rebelled and backed the opposition in Monday’s non-binding Labour motion, which the Commons passed by 231 votes to none, despite many of them praising local democracy.
The vote came after the Tories’ shock defeat to the Lib Dems in last week’s Chesham & Amersham by-election, where voters expressed anger at the proposed relaxation of planning regulations.
Labour’s long-promised Act has scraped through the Lords. While the law marks a step forward, its lack of collective rights leaves workers short-changed — and sets the stage for a renewed campaign for an Employment Rights Bill #2, argues TONY BURKE