This week the government announced proposals to resume collecting data from local authorities on the amount of brownfield land suitable for housing in their area – a major victory for the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE).
So the much anticipated truth is out, the chancellor has failed to cut the deficit. He didn’t forget the deficit, he just didn’t do it. This is not surprising since it was largely unattainable in any case. What is perhaps more surprising is the government’s continued belief that it can be cut by pursuing the same strategy it has over the last four years.