Abolish planning permission fees for small developments
The current planning system is a major obstacle to getting new homes built, and the fees associated with it are a big part of the problem. These fees can be a significant burden for small developers and individual homeowners who want to build a new house or extend an existing one. It's not uncommon for these fees to run into thousands of pounds, which can be enough to make a project unviable.
The proposal is to abolish planning permission fees for small developments, defined as those with fewer than 10 units. This would make it much easier for small developers and individual homeowners to get started on new projects, which would help to increase the supply of new homes and give people more choice about where they want to live. It would also help to reduce the pressure on larger developers, who often have to navigate a complex and bureaucratic system just to get permission to build.
Scrap University Fees for Business Courses
I think we should scrap university fees for business courses, it's a no-brainer. The reason is simple, we need more people with practical skills in business, and the current system is pricing out talented individuals who can't afford the debt. We're basically forcing them to take out huge loans just to get a degree that might not even guarantee a job, it's madness.
The way it would work is that the government would cover the tuition fees for business courses, and in return, graduates would have to pay a small percentage of their income back to the government for a set number of years. This way, the government would get its money back, and the graduates would be able to start their careers without a massive debt hanging over them. It's a win-win situation, and it would encourage more people to study business, which is exactly what we need to boost our economy.
Scrap First Past The Post Already
I'm getting fed up with the same old excuses for why we can't change our electoral system. It's like people think the current system is somehow sacred just because it's been around for a while. Newsflash: it's not working. I've seen good candidates, people who would actually make a difference, get squeezed out by the two main parties because of our outdated first past the post system.
I think it's time we moved to a proportional representation system, where every vote actually counts. It's not that hard to understand, and it's been done in plenty of other countries. I'm not talking about some complicated, European-style system, just something simple that makes sure the number of seats a party gets is roughly in line with the number of votes they receive. It's basic fairness, and it would lead to a more representative parliament.
The current system is just a recipe for complacency, with safe seats and all the rest of it.
Cut Defence Waste with Business Sense
I think it's time we applied some business sense to defence spending, rather than just throwing more money at it. We should be looking to private sector expertise to help identify areas of waste and inefficiency, and then cut them out. This isn't about slashing the defence budget, but about making sure we're getting value for money.
A zero-based budgeting approach is a good start, but it needs to be combined with a more radical overhaul of the procurement process. We should be looking to introduce more competition and flexibility, rather than just handing out big contracts to the same old suppliers. This would help drive down costs and improve innovation.
The current approach to defence spending is too focused on propping up existing programmes and projects, rather than looking to the future.
Scrap the green tax on energy bills
I think we should get rid of the green tax on energy bills because it's just another way for the government to take our money and redistribute it to their favourite projects. This tax is supposed to fund renewable energy initiatives but from what I can see it's just a way to line the pockets of wealthy landowners who install wind turbines on their land and then claim the subsidies.
The problem is that these subsidies are paid for by ordinary people like you and me through our energy bills, which is just not fair. I've seen my own energy bills go up and up over the years and I'm sure it's partly because of this tax. And what do we get in return, a few wind turbines that don't even produce that much electricity. It's just a feel-good gesture that doesn't actually achieve anything.
If we scrapped the green tax we could reduce energy bills for everyone, which would be a big help to people who are struggling to make ends meet.
Scrap the Rail Fiasco
What's the point of having a rail network if it's just going to be a money pit for taxpayers, I mean think about it, we're constantly throwing cash at these railway companies and what do we get in return, delayed trains and overpriced tickets.
My proposal is to introduce a more free market approach to the rail industry, let companies compete with each other to run different lines, it's simple really, if a company can't provide a decent service at a decent price then maybe they shouldn't be in the game.
I'm not saying it's going to be easy, there are a lot of vested interests at play here, but if we can just get the government to stop propping up these failing companies and let the market sort it out, I reckon we'd see some real innovation and improvement in the rail network.
What do you think?
Vote on individual policies, adapt them, or write your own alternative. Good ideas should be tested.