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Rayner Presses Starmer on Ground‑Rent Cap as More Than 100 Labour MPs Warn of Revolt

Treasury concerns about pension‑fund exposure have stalled the leasehold bill, testing Labour’s manifesto resolve.

Overview

  • Senior MP Barry Gardiner said over 100 Labour backbenchers stand ready to oppose any retreat from the pledge to cap ground rents, calling a reversal a betrayal of the manifesto.
  • Angela Rayner urged ministers to deliver the cap and resist lobbying from wealthy investors, warning that failing to act would erode voter trust.
  • Reports describe a cabinet split, with Chancellor Rachel Reeves cautious about deterring pension‑fund investment and Housing Secretary Steve Reed backing a cap at peppercorn or roughly £250.
  • The Leasehold and Commonhold Reform Bill remains unpublished after a 2025 delay, leaving millions of leaseholders waiting for reforms intended to replace a widely criticised “feudal” system.
  • Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham criticised the government’s economic direction, saying Britain is stuck in a rut and too constrained by the bond markets.