Starmer’s Labour may be a broad church, though Guido suspects one of its candidates will send shivers down some of his comrades’ spines. Labour’s candidate for Welwyn Hatfield, the seat currently held by Grant Shapps, works as director of communications for the Clarion Housing Group, the UK’s largest social landlord and bête noire to Labour and the unions alike. Andrew Lewin’s firm, which is condemned as one of the worst social landlords in Britain, has got 260 official fines or penalties since 2010. It was condemned by Labour members of the London assembly for leaving 1,500 estate residents in squalor and dishing out bonuses to the Chief Executive. Unite called it the “Sports Direct of housing associations” after it tried to cut sick pay. That might make for some awkward meetings if Lewin is elected…

The Housing Ombudsman says that 53.6% of complaints against it resulted in findings of maladministration – that puts it squarely in the worst 5% of all social landlords in the country. Clarion was one of only four of 1,738 social landlords subject to “special investigation” by the Housing Ombudsman in 2022/3 – it’s also been in Unite’s crosshairs for years after trying to derecognise unions company-wide. Which side will Lewin take when Clarion fights with the unions over fire and rehire, or when it is condemned by former unison leader Lord Prentis in Parliament? Is Labour so broad a church that a director of one of the worst social landlords in the country is accepted without a squeak?