Rushanara Ali has just resigned as minister for homelessness.

Rushanara Ali, a junior minister in Keir Starmer’s government, abruptly resigned from the government last night.

It came just hours after the i newspaper reported that Ali, formerly the homelessness minister, had evicted tenants from her own property and then re-listed the house within a matter of weeks – for a higher rental price.

While Ali insisted she has consistently followed the rules, she quit to avoid being a “distraction” to the government.

Here’s what you need to know.

Who is Rushanara Ali?

Elected in 2010, the Labour MP for Bethnal Green and Stepney has consistently represented London’s east end over her 15-year career in parliament.

She was in the shadow cabinet under former Labour leader Ed Miliband, and supportedJeremy Corbyn during his own leadership race.

She was appointed to be the homelessness minister under Starmer, reporting into Angela Rayner’s Housing, Communities and Local Government department.

For years, Ali was repeatedly elected on a very healthy majority – until July 2024, that is.

Her majority of around 37,000 was eroded down to under 1,700, with many constituents choosing to support the independent pro-Gaza candidate.

She has repeatedly faced pressure in her constituency over the government’s position on Palestine ever since the war broke out in 2023.

Ali was also a minister of building safety but was forced to give up that element of her portfolio, after she went to a conference linked to the parent company of a firm

© HuffPost