to think it is weird that Tony Blair is suddenly in favour of radical solutions to the housing crisis?

[mothertruck3r]

He is now saying that a Land Value Tax and rent caps should be introduced. Why weren't they introduced when he was Prime Minister then seeing as so much of the housing crisis was caused and perpetuated by NuLabour? Why do so many politicians only raise their head above the parapet with radical ideas when they are no longer in office?

I think Land Value Tax is an excellent idea btw, just don't like it being associated with Tony Blair.

www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/dec/03/tony-blair-backs-labour-land-tax-solve-uk-housing-crisis

[hamptonhangingpork]

I wonder if his income is dwindling at his consultancy firm so he's trying to look relevant to attract more despotic punters.

It can't be because he's desperate to get back into politics, right? I mean he's not completely delusional...oh, wait...

[AlexaAmbidextra]

Quite frankly TB should fuck off. He's so desperate to still be heard having no shame that he lied his way into war to climb up George Bush's arse.

[KeatingsKids]

Every time I see his name I find it really odd that he's Labour. I always think of him as a Tory.

[Floellabumbags]

He's a fucking arsehole.

[Judashascomeintosomemoney]

And he’s going to reverse Brexit! Single handedly! So that’s all right then. Relax everyone, Tony’s here now. I genuinely don’t know how he can show his face in public the deluded tit.

[LibbyLongtree]

If I were ever unlucky enough to meet TB I have one question for him - 'how do you look your children in the eye?'

[hamptonhangingpork]

Libby - his son Euan is pretty keen to follow in daddy's footsteps and become an MP. So between that and Anthony's property portfolio, I imagine Blair feels vindicated as to his political choices.

I disagree with his choices, but I imagine he wouldn't care as he sleeps on top of his big pile of money at night.

[wasonthelist]

I always think of him as a Tory..
Me too

[mothertruck3r]

And he was slagging off Corbyn saying he was unelectable and now he is pinching Corbyn's (and Lib Dem) policies. He hasn't got a moral or genuine bone in his body!

[LibbyLongtree]

I suppose another question for TB could be 'how do you sleep at night?' but I think you've provided the answer hampton!

[wasonthelist]

Why do so many politicians only raise their head above the parapet with radical ideas when they are no longer in office?

They can be more honest when they aren't asking for your vote

[Be3Al2Si6O18]

Labour did attempt to introduce one. Around 2005. It was called planning gains supplement. The house builders shot it down.

[Davros]

He can't be short of money, he's a multi millionaire off the back of being PM, no integrity at all! It's probably to do with his ego - no surprise there!

[lessworriedaboutthecat]

There really was something about the eyes wasn't there.

[hamptonhangingpork]

Libby - depressing isn't it?

We should have seen it coming. He was in awe of the celebrity britpop scene back in the nineties. Blair was only into making money and becoming famous.

If only Pop Idol started a decade earlier. He could have been strumming his stuff on the stage rather than getting the UK into wars etc.

[Andrewofgg]

Rent caps. That really worked last time, didn't it?

[sall74]

Perhaps this is some kind of cunning double bluff from him...

Maybe he's FINALLY realised just how universally despised he is, so now he's putting his name to policies that he's actually opposed to?

[mothertruck3r]

Rent caps. That really worked last time, didn't it?

What you mean like the Rent Caps of over 30 years ago when the demographics of the country was completely different, there wasn't a massive housing crisis, there was an abundance of social housing and BTL hadn't been invented?

We are in a different era now and Rent Caps would not be the same "first generation" ones that existed back before the 1980s.

[hamptonhangingpork]

Sall74 - I think you're onto something there.

Mortgaged landlords would suffer from a land tax, I'd imagine (especially ones with biiiigg mortgages)

[AgentProvocateur]

He’s a spineless sanctimonious bastard, and I wouldn’t give his views any airtime. If he’d focused on housing instead of brown-nosing Bush and taking us into an illegal war, we wouldn’t be in the mess we’re in. He should fuck off back under the stone whence he came

[Tiddlywinks63]

AgentProvocateur has expressed my feelings succinctly.
He's the creepiest, toadying and most self-promoting/congratulating individual ever.
He makes me shudder.

[Ilovetolurk]

Let’s face it he could improve the housing crisis overnight by just disposing of his own property empire

Conflicted much

I’m amazed the twat still gets airtime

[RobotGoat]

I always think of him as a Tory

New Labour were definitely Tories in red ties.

[SilverySurfer]

Thanks for wanting to share TB with the Tories but no thanks. We have no need of a war criminal and when I think of him (which is preferably never) he is firmly in the Labour camp.

[eddiemairswife]

He pops up when he's been out of the limelight for a few weeks. I think he sees himself as a kind of elder statesman, dispersing wisdom.
Another one who does it is that self-proclaimed expert on climate change, Nigel Lawson.