Ali accused of “staggering hypocrisy” after reportedly evicting tenants and raising rents
Rushanara Ali has resigned as homelessness minister following a row over accusations she evicted her tenants and then raised the rent by £700 a month.
According to allegations first reported by the i Paper, Ali rented out her four-bedroom townhouse in east London out for £3,300 a month. She reportedly gave the tenants notice and then relisted the property with a rent of £4,000 a month.
Ali faced accusations of hypocrisy as she was a minister in the Ministry of Communities, Housing and Local Government (MHCLG), which is currently taking the Renters Rights Bill through parliament. The bill seeks to strengthen protections for renters and would ban relisting of properties on the market for 12 months after an eviction notice has expired.
In a letter to the prime minister Keir Starmer, Ali said: “Further to recent reporting, I wanted to make it clear that at all times I have followed all relevant legal requirements. I believe I took my responsibilities and duties seriously, and the facts demonstrate this.
“However, it is clear that continuing in my role will be a distraction from the ambitious work of the government. I have therefore decided to resign from my ministerial position.”
In his response, Starmer said: “Thank you for all you have done to deliver this government’s ambitious agenda. Your diligent work at MHCLG, including your efforts to put in measures to repeal the Vagrancy Act, will have a significant impact.”
Kevin Hollinrake, chairman of the Conservative Party, earlier in the week accused Ali of “staggering hypocrisy”.
Ali previously held the building safety brief in MHCLG. However she relinquished this responsibility last October after reportedly alienating relatives of Grenfell victims over receiving hospitality from building material firms.
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