In the hallowed halls of Westminster, where decisions shaping the nation are made, the voices of those with in-depth experience of the built environment have historically been few and far between. While the British Parliament has been well-stocked with lawyers, teachers, ex-military personnel, trade unionists, and career politicians, architects and built environment specialists have been glaringly underrepresented. This imbalance has significant implications for how the UK approaches urban planning, architectural standards, and the broader issues of housing and infrastructure.

Architects with political careers tend to be the exception rather than the rule. A rare example is Richard Rogers, who, though not an MP, was a Labour life peer and influential in advising on urban planning policies during the New Labour era. His is a rare case, and the absence of architects in Westminster has contributed to a political landscape that often lacks nuanced understanding and oversight of the built environment.

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