Homelessness Minister Rushanara Ali has resigned after being accused of being a ‘hypocrite’ for booting her tenants out of her townhouse and upping the rent by £700.

Amazingly, Ali had recently spoken out against ‘private renters being exploited,’ saying that the new Labour government will ’empower people to challenge unreasonable rent increases.’ Can you believe the cheek of these people?

Downing Street confirmed the news that Ali, 50, had resigned, which comes after she had got rid of four tenants at her property in Bow, east London, before relisting the home for more money.

The four tenants were paying £3,300 a month to live at the townhouse – not a bad bit of extra pocket money for her.

Their tenancy came to an end in March last year, with Ali sending them an e-mail the November prior to advise that she would not renew their tenancy, and giving them four months to find a new home.

Shortly after they moved out, one of the tenants, Laura Jackson, saw the house advertised again for £4,000 a month. Oof!

Laura told the i Paper: ‘It is an absolute joke. Trying to get that much money from renters is extortion.’

Now look, there’s an argument that a landlord can list their property for as much as they see fit and that we live in a society where whoever is willing to meet the cost can pay it. However, it’s just a tad ironic and hypocritical for the Homelessness Minister to be maximising profit like this (especially after kicking out her tenants), and having put out statements as part of the Labour government that it’s an issue she is trying to change.

For what it’s worth, a spokesperson for Ali said:  ‘The tenants stayed for the entirety of their fixed term contract, and were informed they could stay beyond the expiration of the fixed term, while the property remained on the market, but this was not taken up and they decided to leave the property.

‘Rushanara takes her responsibilities seriously and complied with all relevant legal requirements.’

Funnily enough, while staying at the property, Ms Jackson said that the letting agency (acting on behalf of Ali) tried to charge her and the other tenants £2,000 for a repainting of the house, and £395 for professional cleaning. Which is obviously completely outrageous.

The charges were dropped when the tenants told the agency they knew Ali was a Labour MP. Reckon Ali was told about the fees and intervened to make sure they were dropped? I think so.

Who knows, maybe Rushanara got confused about the job description and thought as Homelessness Minister she should be creating homelessness, rather than curbing it? After all, you can’t have a Homelessness Minister if there’s no homelessness.

Either way, not a great look for Labour. First the Anti-Corruption Minister resigns due to corruption, and now the Homelessness Minister resigns for contributing to the sort of problem that generates homelessness. Most people might expect this from a Tory MP, but Labour as well? Just goes to show they’re all cut from the same corrupt cloth. Very sad state of affairs.

For the homeless Florida man with no arms who was arrested for stabbing a tourist with scissors using his feet, click HERE.