There are times when a government resignation may feel unfair – when a minister has carried the can for a mistake not entirely of their own making. And there are times when a resignation may command respect – when a minister decides that they cannot, in all conscience, support a particular government policy. Neither applies to the resignation on Thursday evening of Rushanara Ali, the minister for homelessness.
Ali was caught bang to rights for conduct as a private landlord that flew in the face of her ministerial brief for addressing homelessness, and of specific reforms she was introducing as part of the Renters’ Rights Bill that is currently completing its passage through parliament. She was found to have given tenants of a four-bedroom townhouse she owned in London’s east end notice to quit, only to relist the £850,000 property a little later at a rent £700 a month higher.
