Politics Unpacked

Tim Montgomerie is joined by David Aaronovitch, Matt Ridley and Anne Ashworth. David Aaronovitch Sometimes it is hard to grasp the meaning of an event. In the wake of the shooting down of the Malaysian airliner - almost certainly by pro-Russian separatists, it turns out that Vladimir Putin has been, in effect, waging war on his neighbour. The US claims that over 100 armoured vehicles have been given by Russia to the rebels in recent weeks begs the question of why we have done so little about it. Anne Ashworth Ain’t nothing going on but the rent, so long as millions of twentysomethings are concerned. However, politicians do not seem to be aware of the explosive growth in the private rented sector - now bigger than social housing - and the need for imaginative policy in this area which would provide more affordable homes to let. No wonder younger voters are so disaffected. Matt Ridley We’ve spent years encouraging faith schools, and when a group of Birmingham schools come along and show us what real...