Promoting the Politics of Courage
“This is a welcome move in the right direction. But it’s still a long way short of what’s needed. “The Conservatives were finally shamed into promising they’d do something about the appalling housing injustice created by the proliferation of second homes and holiday lets way back in 2018. Though they keep promising, nothing happens. […]
If money for second homes went to first homes instead we’d have all but solved Cornwall’s housing problems The Conservatives have handed more than £385 million in tax subsidies to second homers in Cornwall in the last decade. If that had been granted for the delivery of first homes for locals instead there’d be […]
Fellow housing justice campaigners and I can celebrate a campaign success – a boost for those who have been fighting to put first homes before second homes. It’s taken decades and won’t happen for another two years – but the prospects of success look encouraging. The proliferation of second homes, holiday lets and Airbnbs have come […]
Cornwall in the national news again. And not for a good reason. We have amongst the worst ambulance waits in the country. Many patients die unnecessarily. Hundreds more experience life limiting disability because they can’t get the timely treatment which would avoid this. It doesn’t have to be like this. Proper investment in core NHS […]
It’s 20 years since we secured the official recognition of the Cornish Language. Remember it well. I was surprised when I discovered I was the first to speak Cornish in Parliament in May 1997. And I considered it an honour to lead the campaign for the official recognition of our language in Parliament at that […]
• The dominant issue this week has been the vote of confidence. I refer of course to the resounding vote of confidence in Cornish Rugby. What a fantastic display by all of our Cornish teams. Our women’s team comfortably winning their Championship (tier 3) final in Richmond, the men’s team defeating Cheshire at Twickenham, […]
The UK Government and other G7 leaders will wish to set an example. Most G7 invitees are from Amber countries. The UK Government’s own regulations insist that anyone entering the UK from a G7 country is required to quarantine for at least five days. That moment has now passed. If they don’t respect their […]
Andrew George was first to expose the multi-million second home tax loophole introduced by the Conservatives a decade ago. He says the apparent “crack-down” on it announced this week “is just pre-election confetti and will, if anything, merely reinforce the problem of a system rigged in favour of property investors and second homers to the […]
Revealed – over £100m of Cornwall’s covid aid claimed by second home owners. It should instead be used for locals in housing need. I’ve also asked one Conservative MP second homer to back my call. Over £100 million of Cornwall’s Covid aid money has been handed out to second home owners since the first […]
Great news for Cornwall’s precious habitat and species. And big congratulations to Cornwall Council the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Nature Partnership and Cllr Edwina Hannaford for demonstrating the determination and creative ambition to make this happen. Cornwall is one of just a few places in the country chosen to lead nature recovery. It […]