Small things add up

On the theme of today's The World This Weekend, Jonny Dymond (standing in for Mark Mardell) went to Milton Keynes for the election. He talked to some of the candidates. I'll quote his questions to each of them:

1. Charlynne Pullen, Labour candidate for Milton Keynes North: 

- In your manifesto you have some really serious commitments to housing in general and social housing in particular. The government, it seems to be saying, will be back and will be back big time when it comes to accommodation for citizens, both in both Milton Keynes and the rest of the country.

2. Catherine Rose, Green Party candidate for Milton Keynes North:

- You would have very rigorous new standards for energy use in new properties and you would also want to see a lot of new properties built and old properties refurbished. 

3. Ben Everitt, Conservative candidate for Milton Keynes North:

[After Ben says, "To put it bluntly we'll build more affordable housing"]. 

- I don't see that in your manifesto. The others put numbers on affordable housing, and commitments. You put numbers on the houses you want to build that will not help people in Milton Keynes on too low incomes.

- You'd like to see a Conservative government build, fund, allow, more council houses to be built?

4. Aisha Mir, Liberal Democrat candidate for Milton Keynes North: 

[No questions. Just her views].

You'll doubtless spot that the Lib Dem got a free run, and the Labour Party and Green Party candidates were asked about their policies in terms I suspect they won't have minded one bit. Only the Conservative Party candidate was challenged and contradicted, and found himself on the end of a negatively-framed question (about how his policies won't help the poor).

Yes, it's a small thing, but small things add up.

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The report's main theme was the housing crisis in Milton Keynes, with the 'right to buy' policy being placed centre stage by Jonny as the main culprit. 

Population growth and immigration wasn't mentioned.