Jeremy Corbyn calls for rent suspension amid coronavirus crisis
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has called on the Government to suspend home rental fees during the coronavirus crisis.
Opposition MPs have urged the Government to support renters after Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced homeowners would be offered a three-month mortgage holiday.
Under the arrangement, mortgage lenders have agreed to support customers who are in financial difficulties due to the Covid-19 outbreak.
The measure, which was announced on Tuesday, means eligible customers will not have to pay their mortgage for a three-month period.
In response, Mr Corbyn tweeted: “The Government has announced a mortgage holiday for homeowners but it must suspend rents too.
“Millions of people rent in the UK. Suspend rents. Ban evictions. Now.”
The government has announced a mortgage holiday for homeowners but it must suspend rents too.
Millions of people rent in the UK.
Suspend rents. Ban evictions. Now.
— Jeremy Corbyn (@jeremycorbyn) March 17, 2020
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Tenants Union UK, which provides assistance to people who rent properties, said the lack of support for renters was “disappointing”.
“Obviously the Government has said this is the start and that they will announce more [support] in the coming days, but I don’t understand why they couldn’t announce it all in one go and give that sense of security to those who are really worrying,” the spokesperson added.
Labour leadership contender Sir Keir Starmer said on Twitter that the Chancellor’s measures “do not go far enough”.
The Holborn and St Pancras MP said: “There is no support for millions of renters, no new money for social care or the elderly, there is no clarity on employment support and no new money for already stretched public services. ”
There is no support for millions of renters, no new money for social care or the elderly, there is no clarity on employment support and no new money for already stretched public services.
There is nothing concrete to protect industries most at risk and those who rely on them.
— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) March 17, 2020
Rival leadership candidate Lisa Nandy also questioned where the “protection” was for people in the rental market.
The proposed mortgage holiday is one of several measures to be introduced by the Government to help people through the coronavirus crisis.
The measures include £330 billion of Government-backed loans which will be made available to support businesses.
In a statement, Mr Sunak said: “We will do whatever it takes to protect our people and businesses from the effects of this global economic emergency brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.
“The interventions I am setting out today will help support businesses of all sizes – so they can continue operating during these unprecedented times.”
