Build, Baby, Build

Labour’s annual conference is a festival of ideas, a family gathering, a place for intrigue and plotting, and a chance to take the temperature of a party that has often held power across the country but more rarely in Westminster. 

Mayors rub shoulders with MPs, ministers with members, lobbyists and industry captains with us ordinary citizens from across the land. Journalists look around, bewildered, trying to find stories that are sometimes hidden behind briefings and bluster.

On arrival there was talk of a palace coup led by the King in the North. Two aspirants worked the rooms to become Deputy. Was the PM going to announce another trade deal with the visiting Australian leader? Did the Chancellor have a big announcement on welfare? Who was up and who was down with the kids?

All of this fell away, and through the haze strode a new Secretary of State, allied with a grassroots army of mostly young, hungry and smart-as-a-whip Labourites. And they have hats. No doubt the boldest and brightest impression came from those campaigning to BUILD BABY BUILD!

If you weren't aware of Labour YIMBY before conference, and the urgent demand for homes across the UK including for the 165,000+ kids sleeping in temporary accommodation tonight, you are very much aware now. With a British wit and a homegrown bucket hat and tee shirt look, the conference was painted in primary colours that rivalled the main platform and raised the flag.

The detail of planning reform takes place in working brunches and late-night fringes. The participants are worthy and brilliant civil servants, special advisors, building professionals and local government veterans. But the political impetus comes from the red hatted army and their new champion Steve Reed, Secretary of State for Housing. Councillors beware opposing the demand for decent homes for all; house builders get your supply chains stocked - there's a new sheriff in town and he wears a red hat reading BUILD BABY BUILD!