Politics, priorities and promises

Posted on 28.06.2024

As the election draws near, and manifesto promises are scrutinised, shared and debated, we bring a roundup of some key issues for our sectors:

Heritage
The Heritage Alliance’s 2024 heritage manifesto, published shortly after the election was announced, draws on 5 core ideas from their research and membership feedback to realise the power of heritage:

  1. Support community cohesion and put heritage at the heart of regeneration.
  2. Embed the historic environment in nature recovery and net zero strategies.
  3. Reform the tax regime to promote long-term sustainable growth.
  4. Harness cultural learning and skills at every age and help the workforce thrive.
  5. Futureproof heritage institutions at both a national and a local level.

Housing and Health
The Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA) has compared the political parties’ manifestos on matters relating to housing and health; they find that no party addresses more than 9 of their 12 Healthy Homes Principles.

Nature
The Wildlife Trusts’ Speak Up for Nature campaign highlights the fact that the UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world and calls for policies that address water pollution and climate change, and support species recovery, wildlife-friendly farming and healthy communities. As the ‘Restore Nature Now’ London march on Saturday 22 June demonstrated, many charities in the sector share similar priorities. A linked resource, from the Climate Coalition, is the local intelligence hub. This platform provides data about local MPs, constituencies, public opinion and the climate and nature movement. Its aim is to enable ‘community groups and individual campaigners to have informed conversations with their local political representatives or candidates for election’.

Built environment
To see where the main parties stand on different issues relating to the built environment, University College of Estate Management (UCEM) has provided a useful overview: What does the UK general election mean for the built environment?

 

(Top image: Polling Station. Photo by Mounsey via Pixabay.)

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