The Labour Party has called on and to give ‘cast-iron assurances’
that they aren’t allowing Tory MPs with a conflict of interest to
rip up promises to ban no-fault evictions.
This follows BBC reports that government ministers are consulting
with Tory backbenchers on watering down planned protections for
renters, with draft amendments including putting it in law that
no fault evictions would not go ahead until assessment of impact
on courts has been published.
This is despite promising on Laura
Kuenssberg’s BBC Sunday politics show two weeks ago that court
backlogs will not be used as an excuse to delay the legislation
coming into effect.
According to an analysis of the register of members’ financial
interests by the Renters’ Reform Coalition, almost a third of the
Tory MPs who have supported amendments to water down or delay
commitments in the government’s Bill are private landlords.
The government first announced a ban on fault evictions nearly
five years ago, but caved to Conservative MPs last
year and confirmed the ban would be indefinitely delayed, citing
court backlogs caused by Tory mismanagement.
Labour tabled an amendment to the Renters Reform Bill to
immediately implement the bank, but it was voted down by the
Tories.
, Labour’s Deputy Leader
and Shadow Housing Secretary, said:
“Rishi Sunak must give cast-iron public assurances that he won’t
give-in to vested interests on his backbenches and rip up his
promises to renters.
“This ban was promised five years ago, but renters are still
being failed by this government. As always with this Prime
Minister, it’s party first, country second.
“Labour will ban no fault evictions, deliver a fair deal for
renters, and take action to boost homeownership for working
people - no ifs no buts.”
Ends
Notes:
