About Red Brick

The place for progressive housing debate

Red Brick is a progressive political blog with a particular focus on housing policy edited by Rose Grayston since March 2026.

As a forum it is open to anyone interested in the progressive debate about housing, communities, and wider politics.

We are linked to the Labour Housing Group but the views expressed here are those of individual authors and/or the editors and are not necessarily the view of LHG or London LHG.

Through debate and the sharing of ideas in this open forum, we will help to develop sound Labour housing policies, support Labour councils to do their best to address housing needs, and support LHG to make sure housing is seen a priority for Labour.

It was founded in 2010 by Tony Clements and Steve Hilditch and been previously edited by our pseudonymous friend Monimbo.

Red Brick editors:

2010 – 2022: Tony Clements, Steve Hilditch and Monimbo

2022 – 2024: Sheila Spencer

2024 – 2026: Alex Toal

2026 – Rose Grayston

Rose Grayston

Rose is editor of Red Brick. She has worked to develop and win support for solutions to the UK’s housing crisis as Expert Adviser to Matthew Pennycook, Minister for Housing and Planning, as a Labour activist and founding member of Open Labour, and through roles at Shelter, the New Economics Foundation and Generation Rent.

Steve Hilditch

Founder of Red Brick. Former Head of Policy for Shelter. Select Committee Advisor for Housing and Homelessness. Drafted the first London Mayor’s Housing Strategy under Ken Livingstone. Steve sits on the Editorial Panel of Red Brick.

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  The trouble with rent controls
  From Berlin to San Francisco, Jenevieve Treadwell examines what happens when governments try to regulate rents – and the difficult trade-offs policymakers in England should consider.
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  Housing-led regeneration in Rotherham town centre is essential to improve opportunities, health and quality of life
  Councillor Chris Read, Leader of Rotherham Borough Council, says new homes in the town centre are rejuvenating the area following a decline in retail, and helping the borough to meet its development targets. However, continued progress can only be made with the right support from the state.
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  The first instruction: Why Andy Burnham is right to prioritise rough sleeping
  Red Brick editor Rose Grayston explains how the mission to end rough sleeping can restore hope, rebuild confidence in government and put people back at the heart of Labour’s housing policy.
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  Why the Government’s New Towns strategy is likely to fail
  As the Government advances its New Towns agenda, Thomas Aubrey makes the case for reviving proven bond-based financing models to unlock large-scale housing and growth without straining public finances.