In Liz we Truss?

EDITOR’S COMMENT Like most of the people I have spoken to over the past few months, I would rather not have Liz Truss as our new prime minister. I even had a moment this week of bring back Boris. (A momentary wish that he hinted may come true in his farewell speech with reuse of the old Cincinnatus’ plough line.) But Truss is the new PM and I wonder if we would be remiss to think of her as just an interim holder of the position. She may not be too many people’s cup of tea, but the woman does have balls. She isn’t afraid of a fight and she did win. By a small margin yes, but probably a bigger margin than any of us really believed she would. She has also proved that she can stand up against a man and win. And if she can stand up against Rishi Sunak and win, surely she can do the same against Keir Starmer? Could this leader for the next 18 months actually be our country’s leader for the next six years? It’s not beyond the realms of possibility. So the job of this industry must be to make the most of this new leader and the new cabinet she has installed. A leader is better than no leadership and a change, they say, is as good as a holiday. And, as a fully signed up, card-carrying champion of diversity, we have to celebrate the fact that for the first time (ever) all the great offices of state are not occupied by a white man – Kwasi Kwarteng as chancellor, James Cleverly as foreign secretary, Suella Braverman as home secretary and Therese Coffey as deputy PM and health secretary. It will come as no surprise to regular readers of this page that the super-right leanings of the individuals in this new cabinet couldn’t be further away from my individual lefty, liberal views, but I do support diversity of thought (even if I don’t agree with those thoughts) and change. This diversity in individuals is radical change for the Conservative government. And maybe we need radical change.  The UK is not what it was. More and more we are having to argue the strengths of the UK. It is no longer a given that investors will come here instead of continental Europe. We have to work hard to bring in the investment this country desperately needs if it really is to level up. Everywhere. From London to Leeds, Bournemouth to Birmingham and Cardiff to Carlisle (ahem). There is opportunity in this new leadership for the real estate industry to have its voice heard. Kwarteng will need a big win to solidify his position and build faith. He is already meeting the big banks to help right the economy; real estate should go knocking on his door and show him just how vital the built environment is in rebuilding that. Landsec boss Mark Allan says it better than me. “Though the relentless nature of the challenges facing the UK is extraordinary, there are a number of opportunities for our new leaders establishing the UK as a thriving place for successful business but also as a leader on sustainability,” he says. “To achieve this, we believe that reform is key. From a business rates overhaul to an alignment on carbon benchmarks to measure meaningful progress in the industry. Working together will ensure that progress is not only sustained, but pace is accelerated.” And, if under Truss the devolution deals keep coming, then whoever is in the big seats in central government will matter less and less. If we have more Andy Streets, more Andy Burnhams and more Ben Houchens (and a bit more diversity, please) then we will probably be OK. Especially if this industry rallies on the big issues – sustainability, talent, equality, productivity. If Truss is set on building an “aspiration nation” then she need look no further than this industry. Real estate makes aspirations come true. And if you don’t believe me, meet our aspirational and inspirational EG Rising Stars 2022.  New prime minister: how the industry reacted >> To send feedback, e-mail samantha.mcclary@eg.co.uk or tweet @samanthamcclary or @EGPropertyNews