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Britain’s Homelessness Minister Rushanara Ali resigned from Keir Starmer’s administration amid allegations that she had evicted her own tenants from her home and re-rented it at a high rate. Her resignation has triggered a political tempest, with opposition labeling her move hypocritical and in discord with her public appearance.
Eviction Controversy Sparks Political Fallout
The i Paper uncovered that in November, Ali gave four months’ notice to her tenants residing in an East London house she rents out. Weeks after they vacated, the property was put back up for rent but this time for a £700 rent increase.
Ali, a Labour MP for Bethnal Green and Stepney, justified her actions in her letter of resignation that she applied all legal processes and took seriously the duties entrusted to her. Nevertheless, she acknowledged that her presence anymore would derail the government’s agenda and opted to resign.
Hypocrisy and Broke Promise to Renters Calls
Her resignation is a setback for Starmer’s Labour government, which has lost not three, but already three ministers in the last few weeks. It also casts doubt on the credibility of the party on housing reform particularly as it has promised to tackle unfair rental practices.
Conservative party chairman Kevin Hollinrake criticized Ali’s actions as “staggering hypocrisy,” and asserted that she should have resigned earlier. Shadow housing secretary James Cleverly shared those concerns, referring to Labour’s position as “do as I say, not as I do.
To add to the criticism, a Liberal Democrat spokesperson declared Ali had “fundamentally misunderstood” her role. “Her job was to address homelessness, not do the opposite,” they added, calling for a new minister to be appointed who does take renters’ rights seriously.
Renters’ Rights Campaigners Sound the Alarm
Tenants’ rights organizations weren’t shy either. Ben Twomey of Generation Rent called the case “a wake-up call” for the government. He emphasized how harmful it is when landlords particularly those who influence housing policy throw tenants out in order to increase rents.
Tom Darling from the Renters’ Reform Coalition called the situation “mind-boggling,” noting that Ali’s own department is pushing a bill that would make such actions illegal. Under the upcoming Renters’ Rights Bill, landlords will be barred from relisting properties for six months after evicting tenants to sell.
The property in question was originally listed for sale with existing tenants still residing there, although it was later put up for rent again after not selling. Previous tenant Laura Jackson verified the eviction timeline and revealed that she was surprised to see the property back on the market for £4,000 almost £700 more than what she and the other three tenants were paying in total.
Labour voter Jackson labeled it a “conflict of interest” for the MPs to be landlords, especially in their own constituencies. Her case has fueled the demand for more urgent and more drastic renters’ rights reform.
