Andrew George
Promoting the
Politics of Courage
I’m running a positive campaign to restore decency and honesty to our politics. To build a brighter future. To combat those who want us to become more inward-looking, backward-looking, more self-absorbed. I’ll build a campaign for an outward-looking, forward-looking and compassionate country.
We’ve been misled by a privileged clique who’ve irresponsibly played on fears to stoke prejudice. We must get beyond the Brexit chaos they’ve dragged our country into. We must restore the things that matter for the sake of our children’s future – our NHS, our schools and the very sustainability of our planet.
Come and join a growing campaign team. We’re determined to win this seat back this time, to make the difference, to build a brighter future.
Many people say “you politicians are all the same”. That statement has never been more untrue. The choice here is stark:
Andrew George - Standing up for Cornwall
National campaigner, local campaigner, former MP.
Andrew describes his role - "Seeking out the silent voices. Standing up to bullies. Fighting for justice”
Liberal Democrats - Building a brighter future
PM Starmer says the government will "back builders, not blockers". Of course, we need more genuinely affordable homes. But the way they're doing it will put "greed before need", and undermine their purpose.
Today, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner announced changes to the National Planning Policy Framework, claiming they’ll meet the government’s ambitious target of 1.5 million homes by the end of this Parliament.
But let’s be real: no government meets housebuilding targets unless it builds the homes itself. This one is no different. The belief that private developers will help deliver affordable homes or act against their own interests is naive, and all major political parties cling to this delusion.
I’ve spent 40 years campaigning for housing justice, including leading Cornwall Community Land Trust to help communities deliver affordable homes. The truth is, that housebuilding targets are just a means to an end—the real goal is meeting housing needs. Focusing on that would engage communities rather than alienate them.
Cornwall highlights how this policy fails. It’s exceeded housing targets, nearly tripling its housing stock in 60 years, yet local families still struggle. Developers focus on building for property investors—like second-home buyers—instead of meeting local needs. High targets alone won’t solve the problem, especially in places like Cornwall.
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We also need AFFORDABLE houses! Everywhere I look in Cornwall there are estates of new houses going up that a tiny percentage can afford on Cornish wages. In addition there are people trying to build in obviously insane places (Whipsiderry is a good example). Taking away power from local councils to object to these properties is ridiculous.
I don't think Labour know what they are doing on this issue. It's going to take time to rewrite the National Planning Policy Framework, and then to prepare new Local Plans. It's going to take longer than they think. Labour also doesn't seem to have a clear idea of how to balance housing provision against environmental protections. We do need more houses, but it seems to me that Labour's approach won't provide the right sort of houses to meet local needs in the right places. It sounds alarmingly likely that they'll just encourage uncontrolled development by greedy builders in the wrong places. I hope I'm wrong, but I doubt it.
The government’s rhetoric & theoretical solutions and passing outline planning applications are a lot easier than actually Producing reserved matters detailed plans and actually building the dwellings and supporting infrastructure. Twenty five years of government failure will not be corrected by open market private development and % of so called “affordable housing” - of all the parties Labour should know it will take significant public central and local state investment in rentable real social housing.
The Deputy Prime Minister set up a false battle between families in housing need and hated Nimbys. You see, the government has set ambitious housebuilding targets – one and a half million by the end of this Parliament – and proposes to bypass local planning committees to do it.
No government has met its housebuilding targets (unless the government builds them itself), and this government is no less doomed to failure. This is because setting housebuilding targets is based on a naive delusion that private developers would be willing to collude with government to drive down the price of completed homes; and to generally act against their commercial interests. Unfortunately, all mainstream political parties are adherents to this delusion.
House building targets are a MEANS to an end. The END of course being the meeting (or at least reduction) of housing need. If instead, the government set targets to MEET NEED, it would provide for more creative opportunities to engage communities rather than to alienate them, as now.
The DPM also chose to pick a fight with the humble newt. Again, creating a false dichotomy between nature conservation and housing need. Both can be achieved, without one having to be victorious over the other. Both accommodated; newts and humans, without one suffering on the account of the other.
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Well said Andrew! I thought as soon as I heard it, it sounded like an impossible dream. It also sounds like a way for developers to get around plannng restrictions that are there to protect the environment.
While I support the need for more affordable housing for local people, I am concerned that our already weak council planning department will be obliged to grant consent to all manner of unsuitable developments in the wrong place. Seems like a get rich quick time for unscrupulous and voracious developers, land owners and large building companies to me. I hope that Rayner comes to realise that different areas of the country need different targets. There has been speculation of taxes on the subsequent large profits from the uplift in land prices. The extra schools, GP surgeries and hospitals that are needed for the increased increased population should be built first by the developers.
There is also the unmentioned issue of food security. Building on tillable land and other 'productive' land reduces the potential for food production and less 'productive' land is invaluable for wildlife and climate. [Soil being a significant carbon store].
The campaign to harness the amazing potential of Heamoor Playing Field made some important progress this week. This is largely down to a reinvigorated local group headed by Stacey Haines and Hugh Eddy who rightly believe the village deserves better.
Following a meeting with Cornwall Council and Penzance Town Council officers on Friday, Cormac have offered to inspect the site. They will review the grass cutting regime and access points, and will make recommendations including the potential to access 'Urban Green Shoots' funding to improve the field.
The community want to see new equipment that's suitable for both older and younger children, with wheelchair access, better access to the field, and improved health and safety.
The field has declined to a rather sorry state and really needs to be taken in hand. So, it’s wonderful to see locals coming together to provide the drive needed to get things moving.
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Great stuff
And what about exercise equipment for adults too? :)
Thank you for your continued support
Spread cheer this festive season by celebrating the remarkable range of creative and enterprising businesses and people our communities are blessed with.
And don’t forget that every Saturday in December parking is FREE! I celebrated Small Business Saturday by visiting Penzance town centre. It’s a remarkable town with wonderful businesses. Though the demise of town centres is much talked about, the energy and enterprise of our local independent businesses is building a strong base for local high street resurgence. Combating the massive advantages available to out of town and online retailers is no mean feat. Encouraging and exciting, and one I hope local people will continue to support.
Here are some of the businesses I enjoyed visiting – The Granary (with Proprietor Sasha), Thornes (with manager Chloe), The Weigh-In (with proprietor Amanda), Pure Nuff Stuff (with maker and proprietor Emily) and Fishboy (with artist and proprietor Matt).
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It is such a pity that our town isn't more welcoming to the less able among us. It would make such a difference if the disabled could park on the high street. We really don't need the whole street for delivery drivers only.
Your working so hard for us all, thank you have a fantastic and Merry Christmas and let’s look forward to peace, health and happiness in 2025 🙏
Ooh! Love weigh in shops, must take a visit
After another casework surgery in St Piran's Hall, Goldsithney at the weekend, I was delighted to be asked to declare the hall's new solar energy roof 'open'.
This is a great initiative. Good for the community and good for the climate. Well done to St Piran’s Hall Committee and Trustees and a big thank you to Perranuthnoe Parish Council and the Platinum Jubilee Fund who funded it.
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You know what else is good for the Cornish community? FARMERS! Yet in the recent vote against the inheritance tax that would cripple so many of them, - you didn't even bother to vote!!! Like I said on the doorstep when you were trying to gain votes as a 'local' - you didn't listen last time and you aren't listening now!
But you block our sun out with chemtrails...and wind turbines dont work in high winds ....complete frauds... lying corrupt goverment you all are Andrew George ...
Common Platform for Cornwall
