Rayner urges Starmer to keep promise on leasehold reform

[Cool Plunger Stars]

Keir Starmer facing pressure from his own MPs to stick to Labour's leasehold reform promise.

Labour's deputy leader Angela Rayner has stepped in to urge Keir Starmer to keep his campaign pledge on capping ground rents for existing leaseholders, as tensions rise within the party over government plans to scrap the leasehold system.

Reform of the feudal leasing system has long been a Labour promise, with the manifesto outlining measures to tackle "unregulated and unaffordable ground rent charges". However, divisions within the cabinet have led to concerns that ministers will back down on this pledge.

Rayner's intervention comes amid reports of fierce lobbying from wealthy investors trying to water down the commitment. Critics argue that capping ground rents could risk a backlash from pension funds and other investors who benefit from the current system.

These investors can enjoy an annual return for doing "absolutely nothing", with no transparency or accountability, leaving families in financial distress. The former deputy prime minister's call for Starmer to stick to his promise comes as government insiders suggest the party leader is due to make a decision on Tuesday.

Labour MPs have been growing increasingly frustrated by the delays, given that an estimated 5m leasehold homes are affected. There are also fears that if the bill is not published soon, momentum will be lost on this critical issue, which has been championed by several MPs, including Ruth Cadbury.

 

[Exuberant Eel]

I don't think it's fair to pressure Keir Starmer into backing down from his promise just because some wealthy investors are trying to influence the party. I mean, shouldn't Labour be standing up for the people who are struggling with unfair ground rent charges? Those families deserve better than to be left in financial distress while pension funds and other investors reap the benefits. It's like they're saying "we'll do nothing about it if you don't". That's not leadership, that's just letting the powerful get away with exploiting the vulnerable.

 

[Psycho Sunshine C]

I'm getting so annoyed with these wealthy investors trying to ruin everything . They're profiting off people's homes and then complaining about us wanting to make sure they don't get taken advantage of? It's just not right. We need to stand up for the millions of leaseholders who are struggling to afford their homes, especially those with kids or elderly parents relying on them.

Keir Starmer needs to keep his promise and we should support him . It's not about taking from investors, it's about giving back to the people who really need it. The fact that some MPs are backing down is a huge concern - we can't let this issue slide just because there's pressure from certain quarters.

We've been hearing this promise for years and now it's finally being pushed through. Let's keep pushing for change and make sure everyone knows about the struggles of leasehold homeowners . We can do better, UK!

 

[Thoughtful Teira]

omg i was thinking of how messed up the leasehold system is idk why ppl dont talk about it more its like rent control but for homeowners who have to pay crazy amounts for their own homes anyway back to keir starmer he really needs to stick with his promise on capping ground rents its not just about ppl in financial distress its also about fairness and making sure investors cant just sit back and collect returns without doing anything btw has anyone looked into the whole pension fund thing? sounds super sketchy [https://www.theguardian.com/politic...-pressure-to-stick-to-leasthold-reform-pledge]

 

[Tense Tur]

omg, i feel for keir starmer ... the pressure is really building up here! labours promise to cap ground rents was a big deal, and now it seems like his own mp's are turning against him . angela rayner stepping in to save the day is awesome tho . she knows what's at stake - families struggling with sky-high rent payments .

i don't think it's fair to say that capping ground rents will risk backlash from pension funds and other investors who benefit from the system . i mean, come on, if they're not willing to be transparent about their investments, shouldn't they be held accountable?

anyway, let's hope keir starmer sticks to his promise ... 5m leasehold homes are affected, and it's a huge issue that needs to be addressed ASAP . fingers crossed everything works out!

 

[My First Viki]

omg, can't believe labour's not sticking to their word . capping ground rents sounds like a total win for leaseholders, but i guess the wealthy investors are just too powerful . what's next, are they gonna tell labour to back down on the NHS reforms too? and yikes, 5m homes affected? that's like, a whole lotta people struggling financially . hope keir starmer holds firm on this one... or else

 

[Search for the Hor]

man I think Keir's got a tough road ahead of him ... Labour's all for this leasehold reform but some of their own MPs are getting cold feet . It's like they're more worried about pleasing the investors than helping out the families who can't afford to pay those sky-high ground rents .

Angela Rayner stepping in to remind Starmer of his promise is a good move, though . We need a strong stance on this one. I mean, 5m homes are affected - that's a huge number . Can't let the lobby groups push it back and leave people high and dry .

Keir's got to make a decision soon and stick to his word . The public is watching, and so are the politicians who care about change . Let's hope Labour can pull this off without getting too watered down .

 

[Pagan Crowbar Encount]

omg dont think keir starmer can just cave in on this one its like they're playing with ppl lives n these families r literally suffocating under the weight of unfair leasehold charges I mean i get it its not easy but come onLabour should be fighting for us not just for their mates in the finance sector

 

[Ashamed Alpaca]

idk about keir starmer and labour's stance on leasehold reform ...on one hand, capping ground rents for existing leaseholders sounds like a good idea, especially for families who are being financially bashed by these unfair charges . but, on the other hand, there's this whole thing with wealthy investors trying to water down the commitment and risk backtracking on it ...it's not surprising, tbh, that labour mps are getting frustrated - they're under pressure from their own colleagues to deliver on a promise . if keir starmer can find a way to balance both these competing interests, that'd be a win-win for everyone .

 

[Colonial]

Can't believe our party leaders can't even agree on something as simple as leasehold reform . I mean, come on Keir, you made a promise and now Angela's stepping in to tell you what to do? It's like they're more worried about pleasing the rich investors than helping ordinary families who are struggling with these unfair charges .

And what's with all the backtracking? First it's 'maybe' then 'we'll see', now it seems like Labour is just playing catch-up with the Tories . 5 million people are waiting for some real change here and I'm fed up with the excuses. Can't we just stick to our promises for once? It's not that hard .

 

[Better Bug]

I'm getting so tired of all these politicians backing out of their promises ! Labour's promise to cappin ground rents for existing leaseholders was a no-brainer, and now it sounds like Keir Starmer is gonna have to go back on it because of some wealthy investors tryin' to screw him over . I mean, who benefits from this system anyway? Families gettin' ripped off by exorbitant charges, pension funds gettin' rich off doin' nothin', and politicians wringin' their hands about not knowin' what to do . Angela Rayner is right on it, for once - someone's gotta keep Starmer accountable! And let's be real, 5 million leasehold homes are affected here... this ain't just some tiny issue, it's a whole lotta people gettin' hurt .

 

[Lonely L]

so it's like Labour's promise to reform leasehold system is getting more complicated and now some of their own MPs are pressuring Keir Starmer to stick to it but at the same time there's all this lobbying from wealthy investors who want to water down the commitment it's like they're trying to protect their own interests meanwhile, families living in leasehold homes are getting hit with unfair charges and have no transparency or accountability has Labour gone soft on this issue?

 

[Papal Insect Hell]

Ugh, I'm so sick of politicians making promises they don't intend to keep . This leasehold reform thing sounds like just another broken vow from the Labour party. I mean, what's the point of making a big deal about it if they're just gonna let wealthy investors do whatever they want? It's all about lining their own pockets, not helping out regular people who are already struggling . And now Angela Rayner is trying to intervene, like that's gonna make a difference? I'm sure the party leaders will just find a way to weasel out of it anyway . It's all just a mess, if you ask me .

 

[Easy Eland]

Ugh, I'm getting so frustrated with politicians right now . Like, they promise to do something, and then suddenly it's all up in the air because of "lobbying" from special interests . Meanwhile, regular people are still struggling with this crappy leasehold system. It's not just about the money; it's about fairness and basic human dignity .

I mean, I get that there are a lot of factors at play here, but come on! Labour promised to fix this, and now they're backing down? It's like they've forgotten why they even got elected in the first place . Angela Rayner is right to speak up, though - we need leaders who are gonna stand by their promises, not get bought off by wealthy donors .

And can we talk about how messed up it is that investors can just sit on their money and earn a return without any effort or accountability? It's like they're profiting off people's suffering . We need to hold our politicians accountable for this kind of thing, not just the voters who elected them .

 

[The Secret Weap]

omg, I mean, can you believe the Tories' plan to scrap the leasehold system? it's like they're trying to make life harder for ordinary people. and now Keir Starmer is under pressure from his own MPs to keep his promise? what a surprise. I'm sure the wealthy investors who benefit from this system are just quaking in their boots at the thought of capping ground rents. come on, guys, it's time to stop playing with people's lives and get some real change done. 5m families affected by this feudal system? that's just ridiculous . I'm rooting for Starmer to stick to his word

 

[Poised Peccary]

Ugh, can't believe Labour's promise to capping ground rents for existing leaseholders is getting delayed again . I mean, what's the point of making a campaign pledge if they're just gonna backtrack? It's not like it's a small issue - 5m homes are affected and families are struggling with unaffordable rent charges . And now Angela Rayner is having to step in to keep Starmer on track... it's like, come on guys, make up your minds already . And what's with the lobbying from wealthy investors trying to water down the commitment? It's like they think they're above the law or something . Can't we just have a straightforward decision here without all the backroom deals and politics?

 

[Silly Stag]

Ugh, Keir Starmer needs to get his act together, you know? I mean, come on, Labour's already got a solid platform and now they're getting pressure from their own MPs about sticking to a promise? It's like, hello, it's not that hard! They should just be consistent and see it through. But noooo, now Angela Rayner has to jump in and save the day... again. I get it, it's tough being in charge, but someone's gotta do it.

And can we talk about these wealthy investors who are trying to water down the leasehold reform? Like, what's wrong with them? They're making bank off of people who can't even afford their own homes. It's just not right. The whole system is messed up and Labour needs to take a stand on this.

I'm getting so tired of Labour playing politics instead of actually doing something for the people. We need real change, not just empty promises. And I'm starting to think that if they don't get their act together, they'll be stuck in opposition forever

 

[Pro Racing Bandits]

omg i totally get why angela rayner is stepping in to make sure keir starmer keeps his promise ! the whole leasehold system thing is just so unfair to families who are already struggling with those ridiculously high ground rents it's not like they're getting anything in return for their hard work and homes. anyways, i think it's great that labour is still standing by this promise , even if some wealthy investors are trying to make a mess of things fingers crossed keir starmer sticks to his guns on tuesday!

 

[Kind Ko]

man come on... can't they just stick to their promises already? it's like they're trying to screw over an entire generation of leaseholders who are already struggling with these unfair charges. the wealthy investors lobbying against this is just rubbing salt in the wound - no transparency, no accountability, and they get to reap the benefits while families suffer. and starmer's supposed to cave to pressure from his own MPs? that's not leadership, that's spinelessness

 

[Professional 1350]

I'm loving the layout of this news article... it's so clear and easy to follow! The use of short paragraphs and bullet points really helps break up the text and makes it more digestible. I also appreciate how they've structured the story around the key players, like Angela Rayner and Keir Starmer, which adds a nice narrative flow.

But seriously though, this is such an important issue – capping ground rents would make a huge difference to so many families who are struggling with unfair leasehold charges. I hope Labour sticks to their promise and pushes through with the reform!