Labour’s homelessness minister, Rushanara Ali, is facing accusations of hypocrisy after it was reported she evicted tenants from a property she owns and then increased the rent by £700 per month. The east London townhouse, previously rented for £3,300, was relisted at nearly £4,000 after the tenants were given four months’ notice to vacate.

The former tenants also claimed that letting agents attempted to charge them illegal fees for cleaning and repainting, which were later dropped after Ms. Ali intervened. A source close to the minister stated the property was put up for sale and only relisted for rent after it failed to sell. A spokesperson for Ms. Ali said she “complied with all relevant legal requirements.”

The controversy has drawn criticism from the opposition, with James Cleverly, the Conservative shadow housing secretary, calling the allegations “the most extreme hypocrisy.” Ben Twomey, chief executive of Generation Rent, described the allegations as “shocking.”