As a nation we tend not to favour extremes. The policies of the Liberal Democrats are positive and progressive and the party could have real influence on how we are governed for the next five years, says Richard Steer
It was not the most auspicious start to a general election campaign for the Conservatives. Rain drenched, drowned out by a loud boom box, even Larry the Downing Street cat had a sense of bemusement as he prepared for what surely be a new master arriving in a few weeks’ time.
I always think that election campaigns deliver much heat but little light. I believe that we are fundamentally a fair nation of reasonable people, who by and large want the best for their families, country and neighbours. In spite of the appalling aberration of Brexit, we do not tend to go for the extremes.
I see this election as giving us the chance of a re-set and an opportunity to bring some sanity back into politics – and, by extension, into business
The country rejected Jeremy Corbyn for instance and Nigel Farage – while trying for an eighth time in Clacton this year – has yet to win a parliamentary seat having been rejected on seven occasions.
I see this election as giving us the chance of a re-set and an opportunity to bring some sanity back into politics – and, by extension, into business. We all know that the economy is going to be in the same mess on July 5, the day after the election, as it was the day before. Indeed many think approaching fiscal bad news was why Rishi Sunak called the election early.
I am not however without hope and there are some immediate things that I would like to see from an incoming government of whatever hue.
>> Also read: Election focus: policy tracker
Our labour market is fundamentally broken and needs repair with over a million young people neither in education, employment or training an anomaly for a nation within the G7. The Liberal Democrats are so often the political bridesmaid rather than the bride, but they may have the chance to bring real change to our broken apprenticeships system should they hold sway with a minority – most likely, incoming Labour – government.
With over 250,000 vacancies over the next three years our industry would benefit hugely from their policy of the creation of a £10,000 “skills wallet” for adults, The proposal would see every adult given £10,000 to spend on “education and training throughout their lives”, according to the party’s plans.
When it was first introduced as a policy, the party said it would put the cash into a “skills wallet” over a 30-year period; £4,000 by the age of 25, £3,000 at 40 and another £3,000 at 55.
The Lib Dems also pledged to increase the pay of apprentices to “at least the minimum wage” to counter high dropout rates, and to expand the “broken” apprenticeship levy into a “broader and more flexible” skills and training levy. Not all employers will welcome an increase in Labour costs but we, as a sector that employs more than 2.5 million people and facing 500,000 vacancies, are frankly going to need to pay if we want to attract the workers of the future.
Housing is a core issue for us all we cannot continue as we are without serious state intervention. It is a Lib Dem aim to create 380,000 new homes a year, of which 150,000 would be social homes. This is vital to address the affordability gap.
Lib Dems also want to provide free retrofits for low-income homes and generous tax incentives for other households to reduce energy consumption, emissions, fuel bills and reliance on gas, and help to end fuel poverty.
None of the parties take the issue of climate change as seriously as they should, in my view. Long after Gaza, Ukraine and Myanmar have become ugly memories, the fact that our planet is gradually being destroyed, by us, will be a huge global challenge as will the water shortages, famine and floods that accompany its destruction.
Climate change is the elephant in the room at this election. It is being ignored by both Labour and the Conservatives, but less so by the Liberal Democrats
In the UK we can play a small part and the Lib Dems have also addressed this with planned investment in renewable power significantly increased so that 80% of the UK’s electricity is generated from renewables by 2030.
Climate change is the elephant in the room at this election. It is being ignored by both Labour and the Conservatives, but less so by the Liberal Democrats. The Green Party have lots of warm words (ironic with temperatures on the rise) but little funded or practical solutions for how to improve things.
I am not blind to the challenges faced by those of us in the middle of British politics. However we have seen what happened when the Labour party lurched to the left in 2019. Rejected by voters, it delivered a right-wing Tory administration that gave us the bombastic and empty bluster of Boris and then the economic illiteracy of Truss.
This election will be different and I think it could well be the centre that holds the balance of power come July 5. I do not think that would be such a bad thing.
Richard Steer is chair of Gleeds Worldwide and a Building The Future Think Tank commissioner
Election focus
With the general election fast approaching, the UK is facing some serious problems.
Low growth, flatlining productivity, question marks over net zero funding and capability, skills shortages and a worsening housing crisis all amount to a daunting in-tray for the next government.
This election therefore comes with very high stakes for the built environment and the economy as a whole.
Building’s coverage aims to help the industry understand the issues and amplify construction’s voice so that the parties hear it loud and clear.
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