Podcast of Ideas Live: Liam Halligan on the UK’s chronic housing shortage

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A chronic housing shortage has been evident since at least the global financial crash of 2008. However, the economics relating to properties has recently spiralled out of control, as a soaring cost-of-living crisis lowers the quality of life for millions – turning the British dream of home ownership into a cruel nightmare. Meanwhile, ‘generation rent’ are stuck in cramped, expensive flats and vulnerable families face being deprived of access to decent social housing, causing homelessness to spiral.

In his widely acclaimed book Home Truths: the UK’s chronic housing shortage – how it happened, why it matters and the way to solve it, the GB News business and economics editor Liam Halligan takes an in-depth economic and political look at housing scarcity, and what can be done about it.

Is our current housing crisis a problem caused by over-speculation, or a cautious and risk-averse market? Should we look for the cause in the collapse of public provision, constraints on private development, dislike of a rental sector, pressure from immigration or an inability or wilful refusal to provide? Is a potentially productive housing sector being dragged down by government over-regulation? Or is the real problem a political vacuum of ideas?

In this special live edition of the Academy of Ideas’ Podcast of Ideas, Liam joins Battle of Ideas festival co-convenor Alastair Donald to discuss his no-holds-barred critique of the UK’s housing crisis, and what might be the radical solutions required to address this most urgent political issue of our times.

Get your tickets to the 2022 Battle of Ideas festival here.