Rushanara Ali, the United Kingdom’s Minister for Homelessness, has resigned following revelations that she significantly increased the rent on a London property she owns shortly after asking her tenants to vacate.
In a resignation letter addressed to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Ali stated, “It is with a heavy heart that I offer you my resignation as a minister.” She had served as the under-secretary of state for homelessness in the Labour government.
The move comes one day after the I-Paper reported that Ali had served four tenants with notice to leave the property, giving them four months to vacate. Just weeks after they left, the house was reportedly re-let at a rate over £700 ($940) higher than before.
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The development sparked criticism from housing advocates and political opponents, many of whom called on the 50-year-old minister to step down.
“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,” Ali wrote in her letter, which was made public by the prime minister’s office.
She added, “However, it is clear that continuing in my role will be a distraction from the ambitious work of the government.”
Responding to her departure, Prime Minister Starmer thanked Ali for her “diligent work” at the housing ministry. He praised her efforts to scrap the Vagrancy Act, noting that her contributions “will have a significant impact.”