Over in the Commons the other day Hartlepool Labour MP Jonathan Brash took a swipe at local development corporations. The backbencher asked: “Will the Minister look at curbing the powers of development corporations so that planning remains in the hands of democratically elected politicians?” That’s despite the Government’s own Planning and Infrastructure Bill actually promoting corporations…
Housing minister Matthew Pennycook(ed) replied: “I note my hon. Friend’s concerns… we would be more than happy to take a look.” Brash was lashing out at Hartlepool Development Corporation, the body relevant to his constituency. Who’s on the Board? None other than his wife, Councillor Pamela Hargreaves…
The good councillor is also the local cabinet member for regeneration and – even more amusingly – Brash himself voted for setting up the development corporation and giving it powers when he was also a councillor. A little local Labour u-turn to go with the big ones…
Speaking to Sky News off the back of Rachel Reeves’ Air Passenger Duty hike, Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary said:
“Labour is dependent on those Red Wall seats, and yet every move she makes poisons economic growth and damages the UK’s recovery… it’s the Chancellor who stumbles from policy misstep to policy misstep… I think her policy decisions are incredibly stupid.”