Public opinion about the issue of housing mirrors more general sentiment in Britain today. People are unhappy with the state of things, impatient for change but doubtful about the prospects of improvement.

Housing is usually a second or third order issue. There are historic exceptions to this. For example, during the 1940s and 1950s housing was part of the ‘MEWS’ (mixed economy, welfare state) consensus. Both the main parties advocated and achieved mass housebuilding.