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The Planning Problem

The Planning Problem

Simple problem, difficult answer We haven’t been building enough. Although it’s not the only culprit behind outrageous house prices, it’s the most conspicuous one. Sort out house prices, and a lot of other things go some way to sorting themselves out.We also have an issue with failing infrastructure and apparent inability to build more without astonishing cost and time and incredible piles of paperwork. These are related in one single problem: planning is a broken process. It’s a simple problem…

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Guest slot from Moonrabbit

Guest slot from Moonrabbit

After much political drama these past years, now elections are out the way, isn’t it time for a dose of honesty, not just between us, but even to ourselves? And as much as it is fun seeing cocky Labour find every week is long and hard in government, and I’ve enjoyed rubbing it in alongside a great many other PB posters, I have decided that to be taken seriously, the best thing is to be more honest about it now….

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Hell

Hell

INTRODUCTION A few days ago Cyclefree wrote an article on the assisted dying bill. I promised I’d reply but when I came to write it my mind moved to points orthogonal to a simple point-counterpoint and my article took on a life of its own. Consequently I present it to you here, not in an attempt to provide answers but pose questions, which I hope you will consider. RELIGION We speak rarely of religion in these secular times, but I…

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Irish General Election Predictions [Part 2/2] Constituencies F – W

Irish General Election Predictions [Part 2/2] Constituencies F – W

I hope you all appreciated part one. Part two will have slightly more insight. The odds have been taken from William Hill [as of 24/11/2024]. Galway East [4 Seats] This constituency is very intriguing. FG have decided to field three candidates in attempting to return two TDs, however I believe this will backfire and they might only return one TD. Sean Canney (Independent), odds: 1/12Albert Dolan (Fianna Fail), odds: 4/11Pete Roche (Fine Gael), odds: 2/5Louis O’Hara (Sinn Fein), odds: 11/4…

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Irish General Election Predictions [Part 1/2] C & D Constituencies

Irish General Election Predictions [Part 1/2] C & D Constituencies

With only a few days to the election, I wanted to share some insight to the upcoming Irish Election. Ireland is currently experiencing many issues including the housing crisis alongside the immigration problem. All the odds will be from William Hill [as of 22/11/2024]. Carlow – Kilkenny [5 Seats] Fianna Fáil are gearing up to attempt a hat-trick, however the Irish Election is set to be competitive and I believe they will be content returning two TDs. Jennifer Murnane O’Connor…

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Trumped – why the Democrats lost and what they need to do next

Trumped – why the Democrats lost and what they need to do next

We all expected a nail-biter that would take a week to decide. In the end, it wasn’t even that close. The Democrats are going to have do some serious soul searching and here are some of the lessons, I think they need to learn. NB: one area I won’t focus on is the economy. It definitely cost the Democrats but is something that was less in their control (The Fed like the BOE was slow to raise rates when inflation…

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Sauce for the goose

Sauce for the goose

WH 24 is now over, and the campaign teams are being wound down. Popping up in the campaign were various Brits seeking to give assistance to our transatlantic friends, Labour famously promised to send a troop of election helpers to the Democrats and Nigel Farage had job conflict between Clacton and Mar a Lago. The consensus of the British political class is that this is no big thing and campaigning across the pond is an established tradition. All well and…

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Politics is back

Politics is back

I was wrong. Prior to the UK election I took the view that Starmer and Sunak were little different. The Blair settlement of the last 30 years would continue, and the UK would bob along in its sleep inducing political mediocrity. Then Labour came into power. Since 4 July a different Labour has emerged, one that is more socialist, aggressive to groups it doesn’t like such as farmers, or the old and who it targets for taxes. A Labour which…

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