Keir Starmer’s government has been rocked once again, as his homelessness minister, Rushanara Ali, resigned following allegations that she evicted tenants from a property she owns in East London and then raised their rent by hundreds of pounds.
The resignation exposes yet another layer of hypocrisy in a government that promised integrity but continues to be mired in scandal.
Ali, who had previously vowed to “challenge unreasonable rent increases,” has been accused of doing the exact opposite. Within weeks of her tenants vacating her property, it was re-listed at a staggering £700 higher than the previous rent. This move not only directly contradicts her public promises but also brings into sharp focus the hypocrisy within Labour’s leadership.
Critics online were quick to say: “It’s yet another example of the party’s ‘do as I say, not as I do’ mentality, where ministers preach one thing and practice another.”
Shelter, one of the leading housing charities, condemned Ali’s actions as “beggaring belief.” The charity slammed her for profiting from the very practices Labour has pledged to outlaw with their renters’ rights legislation, exposing the party’s blatant failure to lead by example. “For a government that claims to champion the rights of tenants, the sight of one of its own ministers exploiting the very system she’s supposed to reform is nothing short of disgraceful.”
In her resignation letter to Starmer, Ali wrote, “It is with a heavy heart that I offer you my resignation as a minister. It has been the honour of my life to have played my part in first securing and then serving as part of this Labour Government. You have my continued commitment, loyalty and support.” While she claims to have acted with a “heavy heart,” the reality is that her departure is a much-needed one, sparing her party further embarrassment.
The resignation adds to the growing list of ministers forced to step down under Starmer’s leadership, further tarnishing his credibility. Alongside Ali, Labour ministers Louise Haigh, Anneliese Dobbs, Vicky Foxcroft, and Tulip Siddiq have all resigned for various reasons, all of which expose significant failings within the party. Annunziata Rees-Mogg asked: “Does Keir Starmer have a woman problem?” Or is it simply the case that every Labour minister he appoints is doomed to fall from grace?
Haigh, the former transport secretary, resigned after revelations of a criminal conviction, while Siddiq distanced herself from the government after being linked to corruption allegations in Bangladesh. Ali’s scandal follows this troubling pattern, and with every new resignation, Starmer’s credibility takes another hit. It’s hard to avoid the conclusion that this Labour Government is fast becoming synonymous with sleaze, scandal, and self-interest.
Ali’s actions, which involved evicting four tenants from a property she owns and then raising the rent by hundreds of pounds, are emblematic of Labour’s inability to practice what it preaches. Despite Labour’s calls for legislation to prevent landlords from evicting tenants and raising rents in the process, one of their own ministers has been exposed as doing exactly that. Ali’s decision to hike rents by £700 a month after her tenants left is a slap in the face to every renter in the UK, and it underscores the party’s complete lack of genuine commitment to tackling the housing crisis.
The political fallout from this latest scandal is already being felt. Starmer’s position as Prime Minister is looking increasingly precarious, with his party now trailing Reform UK in the polls. With every new scandal, it becomes clearer that Starmer is losing control of his government, and the public is growing more disillusioned with his empty promises.
In response to Ali’s resignation, Conservative Party figures were quick to point out the hypocrisy at the heart of Labour’s leadership. Sir James Cleverly, the shadow housing secretary, did not hold back, calling Ali’s actions “total hypocrisy” and accusing Labour of operating with a double standard. “Labour’s position is always: ‘Do as I say, not do as I do.’ They can’t get away with that when in government,” he said.
Kevin Hollinrake, the Conservative Party chairman, added, “It is right that Rushanara Ali has now quit the Government following our calls for her to go. Keir Starmer promised a government of integrity but has instead presided over a government of hypocrisy and self-service. Once again, it’s one rule for Labour and one for everyone else.”
A former Conservative MP told the Conservative Post: “The public is growing increasingly weary of Labour’s endless string of resignations and scandals. With various ministers now forced to step down, it is becoming abundantly clear that Starmer’s Labour Government is a sinking ship, one that is failing to live up to its promises and betraying the very values it claims to represent.”
For Starmer, this latest scandal is just one more indication that the British public deserves so much better than the sleaze and scandal that has come to define his leadership. It’s a reality that’s hard to ignore as Labour’s credibility continues to erode, and as the party’s ministers continue to fall from grace.
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