The wise man

Closed Circuit has felt sorry for Kris Hopkins over the years. Not only is he often taken hostage during the Queen’s Speech (see Closed Circuit passim), but the burly Yorkshireman also came last in a recent Inside Housing web poll of housing ministers.

However it appears Mr Hopkins is more influential than at first appears, that is if Daily Mail columnist Dan Hodges is to be believed. It turns out that Mr Hopkins was one of three MPs to persuade Theresa May she should think about trying to become prime minister should the nation vote for Brexit. “The three wise men who made May”, was the Mail’s headline. Apologies Kris, you were a big-hitter all along.

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Here’s an update from everyone’s favourite politician Philip Davies, the MP who has voted against gender equality legislation, complained men are not given enough of a chance to air their views in parliament and recently persuaded the housing minister to block Bradford Council from development over green belt concerns.

During the Homelessness Reduction Bill debate last Friday, MPs queued up to express concern over the growing homelessness problem. When Mr Davies was called upon to contribute he used his platform to accuse councils of creating “perverse incentives” which encourage people to deliberately develop drug and alcohol addictions so they are prioritised for housing.