Rushanara Ali
MP for Bethnal Green and Stepney · Labour · United Kingdom
“Friend and I studied at the same secondary school and, as children and young people, along with our peers, benefited from learning about the battle of Cable Street and by visiting the memorial that she spoke about, which has inspired young people in the generations that came after as well as before us, and it continues to do so.”
“Friend, so I was able to meet many powerful advocates of the anti-racism movement, including two of my former constituents who are no longer with us. I pay tribute to their struggles and what they did.”
“I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Poplar and Limehouse (Apsana Begum) on securing this important Adjournment debate. She represented Cable Street until the last general election, and I am very proud to represent it now. She and I have much in common.”
“I hope that as we mark the 90th anniversary of the battle of Cable Street, we can all work together to redouble our efforts to build strong communities, cohesion and strong inter-faith relations, as well as relations with those with no faith, and recognise that the modern-day challenge of intolerance and hatred is even greater in some res…”
“They were two people who inspired me and supported me through my political career, along with many others in our community who told the story of the anti-racism movement and continued to work across communities. My hon. Friend spoke eloquently about that period and what happened afterwards.”
“I thank the Foreign Secretary for his incredibly moving and courageous statement. He has been a friend of Israelis and Palestinians. When he was Leader of the Opposition, he and the Labour party recognised Palestinian statehood, and I am proud of the fact that this Labour Government have recognised Palestinian statehood.”
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“I thank my hon. Friend the Member for South Dorset (Lloyd Hatton) for opening this debate and congratulate the Backbench Business Committee and its key members on granting this debate. I am extremely grateful to hon. Members for their insights and excellent contributions, all of which are incredibly valuable as we make progress on such an important agenda. I have heard real passion and conviction in today’s speeches. In those powerful speeches in defence of our democracy, our desire to protect it from those who would distort and disrupt it was clear. The UK’s democratic system has evolved over time to create a stable and adaptable political ecosystem, with strong institutions that are rightly held as exemplars the world over.”
“I look forward to bringing forward further details, before the summer recess, on how we intend to strengthen our democracy and uphold the integrity of elections.”
“It is crucial that we focus on ensuring that our democracy and its integrity are protected from interference and that we have public confidence, and that is our focus. Instead of going into specific individual cases, my focus is on ensuring that we build trust in our system and protect our democracy against interference, and political finance is a key part of that. In closing, I thank hon. Members from across the House for their contributions to this important debate, which was rich with suggestions and ideas. As we make progress in the coming months, I very much look forward to working with colleagues, across parties, to ensure that we take the necessary action. We want a robust, vibrant and representative democracy, and that means fighting foreign interference and unfair funding.”
“This Government are committed to tackling fuel poverty and delivering warmer, cheaper homes for tenants. We are currently consulting on increasing minimum energy efficiency standards in the private rented sector and continuing to support landlords to meet the new standards through consultation.”
“I thank the hon. Gentleman for his question. Raising standards in the private rented sector could lift up to 550,000 people out of fuel poverty. There are a number of schemes to support landlords to improve their properties, and they can look at their eligibility through gov.uk. In particular, there are schemes such as the boiler upgrade scheme, which offers £7,500 off the cost of heat pumps. We look forward to working in partnership with the sector, because we recognise that it is an important sector.”
“I thank my hon. Friend for the question. We have inherited a massive challenge, and we are working at pace to tackle these issues, so that people can live safely and securely in their home and do not face such high costs.”
“We recognise that it is important to get the balance right. The Renters’ Rights Bill will put in place new regulations to protect tenants, and as I have said, there are schemes to support landlords who need support. Investment in a property is an important part of ownership, and improvements can lead to increases in property value, and in the attractiveness of lets to tenants.”
“We are taking urgent action to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping and have announced £60 million to tackle winter pressures. We will update the House on progress in repealing the Vagrancy Act in due course.”
“I refer the hon. Member to my earlier answer to that precise question. The Renters’ Rights Bill will protect tenants from having costs passed on to them.”
“Members across the parties to help revitalise our town centres and ensure that they continue to make a strong positive contribution to our economy and to communities.”
“On department stores, while the point about complexity has been recognised, local authorities can use compulsory purchase orders to address the issue and redevelop former stores. We keep the guidance under review, but we are happy to continue the dialogue; it is very important to make sure that we have a continuous process of learning and improvement. I am conscious that we are running of time. My officials and I can write to hon. Members on specific questions that I have not been able to respond to. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Bournemouth West again for securing the debate, and I thank all hon. Members for participating in it and highlighting the wonderful examples in their constituencies, alongside the challenges. We look forward to working with hon.”
“In another area that my Department covers, homelessness, we have invested £1 billion, including additional funding, to tackle what is another dimension of the societal challenges that we face. We need to support local authorities and local areas to support those who are sleeping rough and facing housing challenges. More broadly, we continue to invest in regeneration. The long-term plan for towns will provide 75 places across the UK with up to £20 million for funding and support over the next decade, giving communities the space and resources to build their vision for renewal. Hon. Members raised a number of points in relation to undesirable types of organisations. Local authorities have powers to prohibit uses of particular types of operations and businesses, and we very much look to them to use those powers appropriately.”
“Having made a number of visits to Bournemouth, I have certainly seen the great examples, but I recognise the challenges that my hon. Friend the Member for Bournemouth West mentioned, too. We are determined to make sure that we provide the appropriate backing through the high street rental auction power, as well as the Government’s wider agenda to support local government and devolution. We have increased local government funding in real terms, and we are ensuring that local authorities have the appropriate support and capacity. The problems we have inherited over the last 14 years cannot be resolved in one go in one Budget, but we have begun our plan for change and for action.”
“The vision for empowered local decision making in the English devolution White Paper, to which some colleagues have referred, is also critical. If a high street or town centre is to flourish, local people, businesses and councils must work together to develop a unique offer for the high street that resonates with the local community. Local authorities and mayors have the ability to bring people and organisations together to develop a vision for their areas. I welcome examples of local authorities taking the initiative to improve their high streets, and we have heard some extremely positive examples today. As was pointed out, in Bournemouth, Bobby’s is established in what was once a Debenhams store, and the Ivy has recently opened.”
“Friend the Member for Nottingham North and Kimberley (Alex Norris), who will want to continue the dialogue. We will of course take away those requests and ensure that officials work closely with the relevant councils and Members of Parliament. I am conscious of the strong interest in this agenda and, if it is to work effectively in communities, we want to ensure that that partnership and close working relationship is in place. I am extremely pleased that a number of councils have a strong interest in using the high street rental auction power, which is not the only action that the Government are taking to revive our high streets. We are introducing a new community right to buy to empower communities to address decline and protect valuable community spaces.”
“There are a number of early adopters, including councils in the areas of colleagues who have spoken today: Bassetlaw, Darlington and Mansfield are already working with us, and others have been placed in the second group—we will announce those shortly. We are working with the early adopters and a wider group to ensure that there is good learning, that good practice is spread and that there is good partnership working—not competition, but collaboration. That will ensure that local areas can learn from one another and that the provision is implemented appropriately. Hon. Members have raised a number of issues, and a number of colleagues have sought meetings with officials, as well as with the lead Minister on this issue, the Under-Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, my hon.”
“That gives power to those trying to shape and improve their high streets, and demands that landlords take sufficient steps to rent out empty properties. To support delivery, we have made £1 million available to all local authorities. The fund has been open for applications since 15 January. In addition, a new burdens payment of up to £5,223 is available to help councils with initial implementation costs, such as those borne through legal advice and the auction process. The Department has made available guidance on how to use the powers, as well as a funding prospectus, to assist local authorities, and it will continue to engage with local authorities across England to promote the powers and spur implementation.”
“High street rental auctions are an important tool against persistent vacancy in our towns and cities, and in December we commenced legislation to enable their use. The new powers allow local authorities to require landlords to rent out persistently vacant commercial units, helping to bring businesses back to the high street and drive growth across the country. In introducing them, the Government are seeking to increase co-operation between landlords and local authorities, and to make town centre tenancies more accessible and affordable for tenants. Through this initiative, we are putting power into the hands of local leaders. They are now empowered to auction off leases on premises that have been vacant for more than a year, and to grant local businesses and community groups the right to rent empty commercial lots at market prices.”
“Before the general election, the Labour party set out its five-point plan to breathe life back into Britain’s high streets. It includes addressing antisocial behaviour and retail crime, reforming the business rates system, working with the banking industry to roll out banking hubs, stamping out late payments and empowering communities to make the most of vacant properties. We are focused on ensuring that we provide the appropriate support to local authorities that are interested in using the high street rental auction power. Sadly, during 2024, up to one in seven shops on our high streets sat empty and boarded up, often for long periods. As hon. Members have highlighted, property that is left empty for long periods, as well as being an eyesore, can fall victim to disrepair or vandalism and be harder to bring back into use.”
“In the 14 years before the general election, we saw austerity during the coalition Government, the economy being crashed under one of the Prime Ministers, and record under-investment. We have seen the spectre of high street shops facing shoplifting and much else. We are trying to fix a set of challenges, and we are using the powers that were introduced under the previous Government pragmatically, making sure that they are deployed appropriately in the wider context while revitalising our high streets. I genuinely hope that we can work together to ensure that revitalisation, because while each of our constituencies has challenges, we have heard wonderful examples of vibrant high streets in the past. We need to be pragmatic and work together to fix them, and I hope that colleagues from Opposition parties will work in that spirit.”
“Members’ passion to support the growth and evolution of our town centres and the revival of our high streets. We all recognise that high streets were once the lifeblood of our towns and cities, sustaining jobs, businesses and communities. I know from my own constituency, although it is in inner London, that there are challenges when major stores close and so on. The Government are committed to ensuring that high streets become successful again, despite the challenges that they face in adapting to consumer behaviour and the demographic change of the 21st century. Before I get into the specifics of what the Government are doing, I will gently point out to the Opposition spokespeople the context in which we are operating.”
“It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Vickers. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Bournemouth West (Jessica Toale) on securing this important debate. I believe it is her first Westminster Hall debate, so it is great to be responding to it. I know that she is a passionate advocate for her local high streets, including in her campaigning against post office closures. High streets have been the subject of several debates recently, and there will be another later today focused on support for high street businesses. We have heard quite a bit already about that. This is a multifaceted subject, and the Government are pleased to have the chance to discuss the specific and important dimensions of our plans. The Government share hon.”
“It is as if we did not have 14 years of Conservative government; as if within the space of seven years we can fix the mess that they left behind, with record cuts and record levels of under-investment. We will not take lectures from a Government who consistently failed local government up and down the country and decimated public services. That is the mess that we have inherited and are working hard to fix. We will work cross-party where people are serious about tackling the root causes, but we will not tolerate hypocrisy and the complete denial of the failure of the past 14 years. That is the mess that we are trying to correct. In rural areas, investment has gone up by 6%; in urban areas 7%—”
“Members have raised important questions about the impact on local authorities in their constituencies. My hon. Friend the Minister addressed many points during the debate, but I will respond to some others. As the distinguished Chair of the Public Accounts Committee, the hon. Member for North Cotswolds (Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown) will know, the National Audit Office’s 2021 report stated that core spending power was 26% lower in 2021 than it had been in 2010. Investment in local authorities has been reduced in recent years. Turning that around will require time. The opening remarks from the shadow Minister, the hon. Member for Thirsk and Malton (Kevin Hollinrake), beggared belief.”
“With the settlement and the Budget taken together delivering more than £5 billion of new funding for local services over and above council tax income, we are ending the wasteful and costly bidding wars for funding pots that local councils have had to endure and moving towards secure multi-year financial settlements. We are providing more money for social care, increased funding for special educational needs and disabilities and alternative provision, and a £600 million recovery grant to support councils with the greatest need. We are responding to the drivers of cost that we know are putting authorities under huge pressure. It is clear that there is much more to do, but this settlement marks a turning point for local government after years of neglect and failure. Many hon.”
“We are fundamentally resetting the relationship between central and local government by delivering the greatest transfer of power from Whitehall to our communities in a generation through our landmark English devolution White Paper. Crucially, we are fixing the foundations of local government, starting with the broken funding system that has left many councils of all stripes in crisis. The final settlement does what is needed: it provides a 6.8% cash terms increase in councils’ core spending power, bringing total spending for the sector to more than £69 billion for 2025-26, as my hon. Friend the Minister stated.”
“Friend the Member for Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton (Jim McMahon) has said, is a significant step towards rebuilding local government as we rebuild Britain. Public service is our collective duty, and we are grateful to those who contributed to the consultation on the provisional settlement and to the Members who made representations. Their input is vital, because strong, empowered local government is central to our plan for change and to delivering the higher growth and higher living standards that every community deserves. This is the change and national renewal that this Labour Government were elected to deliver, and we will achieve that by getting local government back on its feet and working with us in the spirit of true partnership.”
“It is my pleasure to close this debate. I thank Members from all parts of the House for their important contributions. I also pay tribute to the dedicated public servants working in local government across the country for everything they do to deliver for their communities by providing essential local services, protecting the most vulnerable in our society and helping lay the foundations for a good life for working people. They are doing that with great resilience in the face of significant challenges over 14 years of chaos, under-investment and decline. Turning the page on the many challenges we have inherited will not be easy, but the settlement we have discussed today, as the Minister for Local Government and English Devolution, my hon.”
“Perhaps the hon. Gentleman will listen. The Minister tried to respond to his comments but he was not interested in the answers, so he will sit down and listen to my closing remarks. I want to respond to hon. Members across the House who have taken these issues very seriously. This Government have already invested £3.7 billion in social care. We have recognised the need for investment in response to the rise in national insurance contributions —up by £515 million, as my hon. Friend the Minister pointed out. We have invested £1 billion in SEND and £600 million in the recovery fund. That is a snapshot of the investment that we are putting in. Local government and local services were starved of much-needed support under the last Government. That is what we are trying to correct.”
“We are aware that home-to-school transport costs are increasing significantly, in large part due to the pressures in the SEND system, and we are committed to addressing those challenges. The hon. Member for North Herefordshire (Ellie Chowns) raised a number of really important points. The consultation on the multi-year settlement ends on 12 February, and I will welcome her and other hon. Members making their contributions and views heard as part of that consultation.”
“It is, sadly, another legacy that we have inherited, but we are determined to work with colleagues, including the hon. and learned Member—my apologies, the hon. Member for North Cotswolds. He is not a KC, although he does have great expertise in his work. We will work together to tackle these issues—we are having to address them, and we are determined to do so. My hon. Friend the Member for Telford (Shaun Davies) also raised issues around social care, which is a massive challenge that we are determined to tackle in the coming years. We are already investing funding into social care and supporting local authorities that have been struggling. The hon. Member for Glastonbury and Somerton (Sarah Dyke) raised a number of points, including about home-to-school transport.”
“Member for Woking (Mr Forster) raised a number of points on social care, which I have addressed, as well as on national insurance. My hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield South East (Mr Betts) raised important points about investment in SEND, which I have also addressed. The Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, the hon. Member for North Cotswolds (Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown), made a very thoughtful and considered speech. I have addressed a number of the points he made, including on the rural services delivery grant. He also made a very important point about local audits; it is a scandal that a number of local authorities have not been able to provide the appropriate audits. My hon. Friend the Local Government Minister is working closely with the local authorities to ensure that that happens.”
“She works tirelessly on her Committee to raise many issues, including homelessness and rough sleeping. This Government have already increased the investment to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping by £233 million, taking the total funding to nearly £1 billion. My hon. Friend also raised the important matter of the local housing allowance. This Government are focused on increasing the availability of housing and tackling the long-term under-investment in house building, which is why we are determined to ensure we build 1.5 million high-quality homes. We have also invested £500 million in the affordable homes programme, because we recognise that there has been chronic under-investment in social and affordable home building and in the provision of housing over the past 14 years. The hon.”
“The hon. Member had his chance to make his point. He should have taken the opportunity to hear the response from the Minister. On the points about rural funding raised by the shadow Minister and other Members, this Government are absolutely committed to tackling the issues that matter to rural communities. As I said, places with significant rural populations will receive an average increase of almost 6% in core spending power next year, which is a real-terms increase. No council will see a reduction. My hon. Friend the Member for Vauxhall and Camberwell Green (Florence Eshalomi) raised a number of important points on temporary accommodation and SEND funding, among other things. The final settlement for the new children’s social care prevention grant is worth £270 million.”
“No. We are very serious about working with colleagues both in Parliament and in local areas to tackle these very serious challenges, which local authorities need us to address after 14 years of under-investment.”
“The hon. Member took the opportunity to make a speech. I am sure he will get his clicks on Facebook and Twitter, so he does not need to continue in that vein.”
“Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. Once again, I thank hon. Members for their valuable contributions, even if we do not always agree. The point is that we can all agree that there is much work that needs to be done.”
“Members, including the shadow Minister, recognise that we have to take the issues seriously. Just turning up and scoring points will not do the job. We have to recognise that there are serious issues and challenges. Where we can work together, we must. I am conscious that I did not give way to the shadow Minister. If he wants to work with us, I am very happy to give way.”
“An exemplar contribution. The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right about ensuring that local authorities receive expertise and support, which is why the local audit office is so important. I know my hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government and English Devolution will work with him and his Committee to ensure we get it right, so that local authorities get the right support to ensure their finances are carefully managed. I thank hon. Members once again for their valuable contributions. As I hope has been clear throughout the course of the debate, the Government are under no illusion about the scale of the challenges before us. There is no silver bullet to solve them. After 14 years, the idea that within the space of seven months all the underlying issues can be resolved is for the birds. I hope hon.”
“Resolved, That the Local Government Finance Report (England) 2025–26 (HC 623), which was laid before this House on 3 February, be approved. Resolved, That the Referendums Relating to Council Tax Increases (Principles) (England) Report 2025–26 (HC 624), which was laid before this House on 3 February, be approved.— ( Jim McMahon .)”
“Today is the start, not the end, of the process of reform and renewal, but with this settlement we have begun the task of putting councils on a sounder financial footing, fixing the foundations, and strengthening the sector for the long term. This will give councils the certainty and stability that they need in order to plan, move from crisis management to prevention, and deliver the change that the country needs: higher growth, higher living standards, more jobs, more homes and more opportunities as we rebuild as part of our plan for change. We are putting more money into people’s pockets, and putting stability, investment and reform first to deliver national renewal. We are putting Government back in the service of working people. I commend this settlement to the House. Question put and agreed to.”
“Perhaps the shadow Minister did not hear the opening remarks of my hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government and English Devolution, or my remarks, about what the Government have already invested in local government—billions. Does he want me to go over it again? There is not much time, Madam Deputy Speaker, but I suggest that he goes back and listens to the speech and those announcements. He knows that, in a very challenging set of circumstances, we have invested an additional £5 billion in local government. I hope very much that we can work on areas in which we can agree, but where we cannot, let us agree to disagree. As I have said, there is no silver bullet that will solve the difficulties that we have to address, many of which we have inherited.”
“Whatever Members’ arguments, whichever side of the argument they are on, whichever system they believe we should adopt or whether they believe we should retain the current system, it is absolutely vital that we do not delegitimise the democratic mandate that this Government, or any other Government in the past, have been given to serve this country and the people who have voted for us.”
“Indeed, I hope we will all work together in that endeavour to make sure that we protect the integrity of our system, our institutions and our precious democracy. How we select our representatives in Parliament is of fundamental importance and Members quite rightly have strong views. The choice of voting system is central to that concern, as we have heard in the many speeches made today, and how votes are cast goes to the heart of our democracy. I, for one, am incredibly proud to have been the first person of British-Bangladeshi heritage to get a democratic mandate in our system in 2010. That democratic mandate must never be delegitimised, even if we believe that there should be a different system.”
“I start by thanking my hon. Friend the Member for Leeds Central and Headingley (Alex Sobel) for opening the debate and by congratulating the Backbench Business Committee and the key Members on securing this debate. The UK’s democratic system and institutions are strong and are rightly held the world over as a strong example of democracy. I know as someone who was born in another country that the UK’s democratic system has provided inspiration, even though as we have heard many hon. Members believe more work needs to be done in some areas. In defence of our democratic system, I reiterate how much our system and our democracy is cherished. Whichever side of the argument Members are on, it is vital that we work tirelessly to protect our democracy, which faces different kinds of threats in the current climate.”
“In order to allow my hon. Friend the Member for Leeds Central and Headingley enough time to wind up the debate, I will address just one other point. My hon. Friend the Member for Kensington and Bayswater (Joe Powell) spoke about foreign interference in relation to funding. Foreign money has no place in UK politics, and it is vital that we protect our democracy from those who seek to interfere in UK elections through illegitimate political donations. That is why we committed in our manifesto to strengthening the rules around donations to political parties. We will work with Members across the House to ensure that we protect the integrity of our democracy.”
“Members asked about the London mayoral election and police and crime commissioners, following the changes in the Elections Act 2022. The Government currently have no plans to change the voting system for those polls. Like a number of policies, we will keep these matters under review. A number of hon. Members suggested that the first-past-the-post system is contributing to a decrease in turnout, and pointed to the low turnout at the last election. It is on all of us to think carefully about the drivers of low turnout, which will be a range of factors. We all have a responsibility, as elected representatives, to work with our parties and communities to promote engagement, particularly among young people. We will work with colleagues to promote that democratic engagement, and ensure that young citizens are active citizens from an early age.”
“We are continuing to consider whether further improvements to policy can be made. I am conscious of the contributions of some hon. Members about the exclusion of legitimate voters. It is crucial that we ensure that people are not disenfranchised, while ensuring that there are not abuses of our system. As I mentioned, the Liberal Democrat party, in coalition with the Conservative party, secured a referendum on AV in 2011, with considerable cross-party support from Labour Members. The proposal was rejected by 67.9% of votes. While I recognise the strength of feeling, I have made the Government’s position clear. Hon. Members asked whether the Government have any plans for a national commission on electoral reform. At present, we do—we do not. [ Laughter . ] That was not a Freudian slip. Some hon.”
“The processes that underpin our elections are of paramount importance and changes cannot be made lightly; however, I stress that we are not averse to changes to, and innovation in, our democracy. We must continue to monitor all aspects of our electoral system, and ensure that it runs effectively and adapts to the modern challenges that we face as a democracy. As we set out in our manifesto, we are seeking to make changes, including our commitment to extend the franchise to 16 and 17-year-olds. We are continuing to assess the voter identification policy in order to address any inconsistencies. I am pleased that we were able to add veteran cards to the list of accepted documents last year; our veterans community will be able to use them to vote in polling stations this May.”
“As has been pointed out, the first-past-the-post system, while not perfect, provides for a direct relationship between Members of Parliament and their local constituency. A change would require a national conversation and referendum. The Government’s focus and No. 1 priority, having won the general election and secured a mandate, is to kick-start our economy, create the growth that is desperately needed, and improve living standards, our NHS and public services, to serve the people of our country. Members have put their arguments across eloquently, and I respect those arguments. As others have pointed out, we had an opportunity to change the voting system in the 2011 referendum. Unfortunately for those who are proponents of such a change, that referendum was lost.”