Senior ministers have poured scorn on the idea of freezing private sector rents for a year, less than 48 hours after the Guardian revealed Rachel Reeves was considering it.
Steve Reed, the housing secretary, and Matthew Pennycook, the housing minister, became the latest government figures to criticise the idea, which has since been ruled out by No 10.
The government splits over the idea have fed speculation about Reeves’ job after reports over the weekend that Keir Starmer was intending to sack her after the local elections.
The prime minister failed to guarantee she would remain in place during Wednesday’s Prime Minister’s Questions, though Downing Street insists she retains the prime minister’s support.
Pennycook said on Wednesday about the rent freeze: “We are not doing this. It’s not a credible or serious policy proposition.”
He added: “I can’t remember how many times I’m on record of saying this government has no intention, does not agree with rent controls, and there are really good reasons for that.
“We exhaustively went through the evidence of countries like Sweden, Germany, cities like San Francisco. Look at the Scottish experience. Now look at what happens to rent increases outside of tenancies where you have that form of control.”
Some experts argue that rent controls bring down rents for regulated homes, but push up those which fall outside the policy, whether they are in the same area or nearby.
Pennycook’s comments came after Reed gave a similarly scathing response to the idea, saying: “I’ve been crystal clear – we’re not doing it.”
The immediate pushback to the idea has prompted renewed questions over the chancellor’s future in government.
Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative leader, asked the prime minister in the Commons on Wednesday: “This is not a serious way to run the economy … Will he listen to businesses, listen to the country, and reshuffle the chancellor?”
Keir Starmer responded by praising Reeves, but did not explicitly guarantee she would not be replaced as he has done in the past.
Keir Starmer during Wednesday’s PMQs. Photograph: House of Commons/AFP/Getty ImagesDowning Street said afterwards: “[The prime minister has] full confidence in the chancellor.” Asked to repeat Starmer’s previous guarantee that she would remain in post until the next election, a spokesperson said: “That position remains unchanged.”
Reeves’ allies have dismissed reports over the weekend that the prime minister was intending to sack her as “one final roll of the dice” to stay in power after heavy local election losses. One described it as “bollocks”.
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