Amid criticisms that she hiked her property’s rent while serving as the UK Homelessness Minister, Rushanara Ali resigned her appointment on Thursday.

In a letter addressed to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Ms Ali said, “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,” she declared.

Referring to criticisms that she hiked her property’s rent, despite working as a homelessness minister, Ms Ali said, “Further to recent reporting, I wanted to make it clear that at all times I have followed all relevant legal requirements.”

She added, “I believe I took my responsibilities and duties seriously, and the facts demonstrate this.”

Responding to her resignation, Mr Starmer thanked Ms Ali for her “diligent work” and for helping “deliver this government’s ambitious agenda.”

Ms Ali’s resignation comes days after iPaper reported that she rented her property out at £700 rent increment after she evicted four of her tenants on the grounds that she wanted to sell the property.

Since the report, Ms Ali has faced huge criticisms from the opposition party and citizens who accused her of extorting tenants contrary to the Labour Party’s promise to strengthen tenants’ rights.

This comes as the UK’s Renters’ Rights Bill is in its final stage before parliament. When passed, landlords cannot rent out a property for six months after evicting tenants because they want to sell it. Additionally, landlords are required to provide tenants with four months’ notice.

Reacting to Ms Ali’s resignation, James Cleverly, the shadow housing secretary, said, “Her actions were total hypocrisy and that she should go if the accusations were shown to be true. Rushanara Ali fundamentally misunderstood her role. Her job was to tackle homelessness, not to increase it.”