Labour MP on £94k nonetheless lives in council flat amid housing scarcity | Politics | News | EUROtoday

A Labour MP has stated she will not be hounded out of her dwelling after it was alleged she nonetheless lives in a council flat regardless of condemning an absence of inexpensive housing in her constituency. Poplar and Limehouse MP Apsana Begum was accused of hypocrisy by the Conservatives after stories of her alleged residing preparations emerged on Saturday (January 31).

The Telegraph stated Ms Begum continues to be residing in a council flat in her constituency after telling the Guardian in 2021 that it was “probably not something” she wanted. Conservative Party Chairman, Kevin Hollinrake, stated Ms Begum’s “hypocrisy” was “staggering”. He stated: “She has been speaking out about the need for more council housing while occupying a council flat herself, despite pocketing an MP’s salary worth more than three times the average wage.”

Mr Hollinrake added: “As ever, it’s one rule for Labour and another for everyone else. Council homes should be for those who really need them.”

Barrister, Dr Charlotte Proudman, founding father of Proudmans Law Firm, stated Ms Begum had been acquitted after a vexatious trial in 2021 with the matter being closed and no wrongdoing on her half.

She added: “We consider this harassment of her to be an abuse of power which highlights the unjust treatment she continues to have to endure as a survivor of ongoing domestic abuse and the first hijab-wearing MP.”

Ms Begum on Sunday posted a clip of herself telling parliamentarians protected and inexpensive housing was an pressing necessity for girls and women escaping home abuse, which she stated was a housing problem.

She stated a few of her critics have tried to spur on the media and the far proper to hound her over her residing preparations.

The Labour MP stated: “I want to be clear, I will not be hounded out of my home.”

Ms Begum was cleared of housing fraud at Snaresbrook Crown Court after she had been accused of constructing dishonest purposes to Tower Hamlets Council for council housing between 2013 and 2016.

After jurors discovered her not responsible, she stated “vexatious” claims about her residing preparations sparked a yr and a half of racist and sexist on-line abuse.

A spokesperson for Tower Hamlets Council stated its allocations coverage limits candidates with a sole or joint revenue of £90,000 or extra from being added to its Housing Register.

They stated as soon as somebody is assigned a council dwelling, it’s not the native authority’s coverage to evaluation their wage.

Government figures shared by assume tank, Centre for London, exhibits Tower Hamlets has one of many highest variety of folks on its Housing Register at 23,609 in 2022-23. It is described by the assume tank because the capital’s most densely populated borough, with 17,257 folks per sq. kilometre and as having one of the crucial acute housing wants in England.

Ms Begum has not damaged any guidelines in persevering with to dwell in a council flat, as alleged. The fundamental wage for MPs was set at £93,904 in April 2025.