These positive effects are transitory, however, when local economies have insufficient permanent employment to justify a constant level of demand for new housing stock.

WSJ: Robert Bridges: A Home Is a Lousy Investment

In his report, Mr Laidlaw also noted constant changes of permanent secretary at the DfT and said resources were "excessively stretched due to the government's spending review and the competing pressures of other projects".

BBC: West Coast Mainline deal failure criticised

Now, in an era of constant polling and the permanent campaign, elections no longer confer much authority on the victor.

ECONOMIST: Presidential nominations