This out of touch Government

The announcement this week that the Government has introduced ‘pints’ of wine as proof of a Brexit benefit is evidence (if you still needed it) that we are in the dying days of a government that has lost its way.

I have knocked on hundreds of thousands of doors over the last decade and I have never met anyone desperate to grab a pint of wine, and if they did, they probably don’t realise it will only apply to UK wines, not the European or New World wines enjoyed by most people.

More common is a frustration that public services are on their knees and society unravelling. Residents are desperate for our community to be future proofed from the problems brought about by climate change, the increasing use of AI and the impact of an ageing population.

This Government has wasted over two years running a consultation and creating legislation for something that no-one asked for and no-one needs. Over 100,000 replied to the consultation and only 403 people wanted the UK to switch back to Imperial measurements, with only 870 wanting more choices.  And yet, this Government has changed the law on the back of just a handful of people, creating costs for business.

In recent years the Government has undertaken some important consultations, but the following ones seems to be stuck in the ‘too difficult’ pile and seem unlikely to see any positive outcome this side of a General Election.

The irony is these issues DO come up regularly during doorstep conversations and cause real harm to the lives of people in communities across Purbeck and beyond.

The first is on Zero Carbon Homes, and the regulations that housebuilders will have to achieve.  Councils are being held to account on failing to deliver Zero Carbon targets, but all the while developers can build to lower environmental standards and consumers pay the price - financially from higher bills and environmentally as homes generate ¼ of our nation’s carbon emissions.

The second consultation is on banning Pavement Parking. A recent poll in the Daily Express showed that over ¾ of people want to see this ended, and petitions regularly prove most people favour changes in legislation.  

Pavement Parking not only damages footpaths and causes inconvenience but is responsible for accidents, reduces children’s independence and the freedom of elderly and disabled people. Scotland and Wales have already progressed legislation but despite the consultation closing over three years ago, the Government has taken no action, instead manufacturing a ‘war on motorists’ to stoke community divisions.

Delivering on safer streets and low carbon homes will improve our quality of life, boost the economy by reducing costs for households and they could save money in the NHS from reduced accidents, improved health and fewer deaths from cold or damp homes.  

The Government needs to listen to people and deliver on policies for whole communities not prop up their ailing electoral prospects with niche policies that help no-one.

This latest policy on pints proves two things.  First, that this Government can deliver if they want to and second, that they are out of touch with the rest of us.  It’s time for them to go and give a new Government the opportunity to finish what they started.