, Columnist
The U.K. 'Youthquake' Was All About the Rent
Frustration with unaffordable housing is driving support for the opposition Labour Party.
For a princely sum.
Photographer: Simon Dawson/BloombergThe central issue in British politics is not, as you might have thought, Brexit. It's housing.
New analysis shows that Britain's long-festering housing shortages contributed to the 2017 election that cost the Conservatives their majority. While Brexit divisions cut across party lines, Britain's housing problems overwhelmingly benefit Labour. Now, it seems the government may finally be grasping the extent of the problem. “Young people without family wealth are ‘right to be angry’ at not being able to buy a home,” said Prime Minister Theresa May Monday in a speech focused on housing.