While Brexit casts its shadow across the whole of UK politics and policy, it seems everything else is in the dark. Months – if not years – of inertia has sprung from the utter inability of MPs of all parties to set aside political and ideological differences to find a solution to the mess the country is in.

If there is just one local government issue that has squeezed into the light in the past year or so it is housing. Writing about Shelter's recent commission in this week's issue (see pages 14-15), the figures are stark. A total of 277,000 homeless people in 2018 is a disgrace, as is the rise of expensive, insecure and unsuitable private rented accommodation.