From my latest for Comment is Free:
Johnson's approach has its critics, who say that too much of the burden is falling on the poorer boroughs. But it also has its fans, including those in the "affordable" homes business, such as the chief executive of London's largest housing association, Notting Hill housing. Kate Davies thought Ken Livingstone's strategy dictatorial and counterproductive.
One of its key features is the negotiation of individual targets with each of London's boroughs. Critics tartly observe that not one of the 50,000 has yet appeared but Blakeway, speaking up for the policy in January, stressed that effective delivery required "an end to centralised targets in favour of empowering communities".
That's an appealing distillation of an attractive Conservative philosophy. But what exactly does it mean in practice? What might it mean if extended across Britain by a David Cameron government?
I'm not sure of the answer. But I do have some more questions.
