Our Insight

Keeping up with Connect: House of Lords – Content or Not Content?

17 August 2018

In the first of a series of debates on the Connect blog, Isabella Hunter-Fajardo makes the case for the House of Lords.

House of Laws: in defence of the Second Chamber

The wealth of experience in the Second Chamber is an asset to the UK’s legislative process. At Connect, we often track Bills, or even specific amendments and clauses for clients as they progress through Parliament. Seeing the depth and quality of debate during the respective stages of legislation in the Commons and Lords has given me an appreciation of the role the Upper House plays. Read more

The Tories are developing a manifesto: now is the time to shape their thinking

14 August 2018

After a week’s blanket coverage of his recent column in the Daily Telegraph, Boris Johnson has this week shifted his focus from burqas to building and to the government’s biggest domestic challenge: addressing the housing crisis. Perhaps he has taken note of another Conservative MP Chris Skidmore writing, this time in the Sunday Telegraph, that Conservatives must start talking about the bread and butter issues that matter to voters Read more

Testing times for housing: will the new Housing Delivery Test make a difference?

13 August 2018

Increasing the supply of housing has been a stated aim of every government of recent times.  When David Cameron was Prime Minister he set out an ambition to build a million homes by 2020.   Theresa May’s stated target is to deliver 300,000 homes a year in this Parliament.   There has been some divergence in policy between the two Conservative Prime Ministers – a shift away from a home-owning democracy and promoting Help-to-Buy towards a renewed focus on increasing the provision of affordability and a tougher position on the Buy-to-Let market. But the key theme is much the same – to build more homes. Read more

Will there be a General Election this year?

10 August 2018

We are often asked by clients what the prospects are of a General Election taking place this year. Politics is becoming increasingly unpredictable these days and anything could happen, but we think it is about 70/30 that there will not be an election. Read more

Local elections and what to watch out for

18 April 2018

On May 3rd, 4350 local council seats are up for election in 151 council areas, including all 32 London Boroughs. These elections will determine who runs local council services and will also be seen as a significant test of support for the main political parties and their Leaders.  Read more

Education and human capital

7 March 2018

Connect are currently working with Schole, a UK based company that is doing great things to bring investment to education in East Africa. Our role is to help tell their story, and it is a fascinating one, not least because they are making a difference without a penny of aid from the UK government. Read more

Nationalisation – a lot of water under the bridge before it happens?

2 March 2018

Nationalisation – a lot of water under the bridge before it happens?

A recent report by the Social Market Foundation, the non-partisan centrist think tank,  estimated that the up-front cost of nationalising the water industry would be £90bn. The SMF also estimated that the government would need over £100bn over the next 25 years to meet the long-term investment needed within the sector. Read more

The politics of foreign property ownership

15 February 2018

The issue of housing is already showing itself to be key in the run up to local elections this year. Faced with the prospect of Labour gains, the recent government announcement of a new public register of ultimate owners of UK properties is both an attempt to push through legislation ahead of the EU withdrawal, and to show that government is thinking about issues other than Brexit. Read more

Connect launches series of 5 regional events for Transport Knowledge Hub

13 February 2018

Connect is delivering five regional policy events for the Transport Knowledge Hub – a new tool for local authorities, LEPs and transport decision-makers considering making investments in transport projects.

Read more

Crashing out of Europe?

12 February 2018

The prospect of the UK crashing out of Europe grows every day

Our politicians seem more focussed on what they don’t want during transition and after Brexit, rather than a clear plan for what the UK does want. The recently resigned Brexit Minister Lord Bridges told the House of Lords of his frustration. “What do we value? Sovereignty and control or market access and trade? There are still no clear answers to these basic questions”. Angela Merkel meanwhile says “we are open to any kind of partnership but it is in the UKs hands to tell us how close a partnership it wants”. Read more