I am a leader to ensure that we are governed by these basic truths. And as Prime Minister I will ensure that the machinery of government is focused on getting the basics right. I’m an engineer, a systems thinker, trained to strip things down to the basics and make the machine work. That’s why I’ve put together a plan to cut big government so we can drive real change and, in time, cut taxes. But a coherent Conservative vision for government also requires us to explain why some big problems are linked and you need to have a clear plan for solving them together. This is the case with the interrelated issues of housing, immigration and the family. We need new homes in the right places. We need them to spread prosperity, give the next generation a stake in the future and enable families to thrive. We must also recognize that the pressure on housing comes from increased immigration and from family breakdown. Resolving these interrelated questions requires honesty and rigor.
Going up the escalator
On housing, we will never get the homes we need where we need them if we insist on ever higher rigid top-down housing targets. We need to bring people with us by providing infrastructure first and insisting that new homes are built to a higher standard and look nicer. We must break the stranglehold of the identikit cartel of land banking housebuilders. But we need to consider the demand side of housing, not just the supply side. People – rightly – recognize that building more houses without doing anything to reduce immigration is like running on an escalator. We will never get where we need to go with this approach and get people to accept more homes if it is because of failures in immigration. If we can reduce immigration to a sustainable level, then we can protect green spaces for our children and valuable agricultural land. And so controlling immigration is important in managing the pressures it puts on housing and public services. Building trust in the government’s ability to control immigration is an important foundation for ensuring a cohesive society.
We need to control the borders and the laws
I am proud to call myself British. My belief in Britain as a sovereign country led me to vote leave in the Brexit referendum. A nation is not really a nation unless it has the right to determine who comes into it, when they come, and how and when they can enter and leave. I strongly believe that we should control our borders and our laws. I will do whatever it takes to address the issue of small boats. I’m not someone who starts fighting to get headlines – and I want to focus on the world’s top priority, which is the economy. But the economic issues around housing and immigration are inextricably linked. As is the bond with family. Family breakdown increases the demand for housing and unaffordable housing in many areas prevents people from creating the family life they want. The family is the first line of welfare, and strong families reduce the need for a larger state. Families come in all shapes and sizes, and as a staunch supporter of same-sex marriage, I reject any notion that being pro-family means prescribing how others should live. It’s about supporting love. So I will look at how our tax and benefit system can support family life and the joys it brings. Consistent, conservative conviction leadership is what I will bring if you elect me as prime minister.
