BREAKING: Homelessness minister Rushanara Ali resigns after 'ejecting tenants and hiking rent'

Labour’s homelessness minister has resigned after reports claimed she hiked rent on a property she owns by hundreds of pounds just weeks after the previous tenants’ contract ended.

Four tenants who rented a house in east London from Rushanara Ali were sent an email last November saying their lease would not be renewed, which also gave them four months’ notice to leave, the i Paper reported. Ms Ali’s property was then re-listed with a £700 rent increase within weeks.

Ali has now resigned saying in a letter to the Prime Minister that remaining in the role would be “a distraction from the ambitious work of this Government”.

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She told the Prime Minister in a letter: “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.

“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.”

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