A heated clash broke out on GB News as presenter Alex Armstrong grilled Labour MP Catherine Atkinson over Angela Rayner’s growing property portfolio.
The Deputy Prime Minister’s decision to acquire a third home was branded by Alex as “not a good look” at a time when millions are struggling with soaring rents and record mortgage rates.
But Atkinson hit back, insisting the focus should be on Labour’s pledge to deliver 1.5 million new homes, dismissing questions over Rayner’s housing situation as “irrelevant”.
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Alex Armstrong grilled the Labour MP on the move from the Housing Secretary
|GB NEWS
Speaking on GB News, Alex Armstrong said: "Is it a good look for the Deputy Prime Minister to have three places of residence, while many people in this country are struggling to get on the housing market?
"Mortgages are through the roof, people are struggling to pay rent, do you think this is really good optics for her?"
Labour MP Catherine Atkinson responded: "I think that certainly, when it comes to national policy, what’s important is that we are building the 1.5 million homes that this country needs and that this Government is taking clear steps to do. I’m not really sure that Angela Rayner’s housing situation is particularly relevant to that."
Alex said: "I disagree, Catherine, because I think people look for leadership in these roles.
"They want to know: does this person understand the situation that I’m in? Do they understand the circumstances?"
She replied: "I think Angela Rayner certainly does understand the pressures around housing. I certainly understand it as a Derby MP, when we’ve got 10,000 people on the waiting list.
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"It’s really important that we see what is being implemented with planning reforms and the commitment by this Government to actually get the homes built that we need.
"I’m really pleased that, in Derby, the Derby College has just been made one of the technical excellence colleges to deliver the skills we need to build homes.
"I think this line of questioning is just not really relevant to the issues that are hugely important."
The Housing Secretary has purchased a luxury seaside flat in Hove for more than £700,000, according to reports that emerged on Saturday evening.
The Housing Secretary has purchased a luxury seaside flat in Hove for more than £700,000
|GETTY
The three-bedroom property features sweeping seafront views and joins her existing £650,000 constituency residence in Ashton-under-Lyne and a grace-and-favour apartment at Admiralty House in Westminster.
Land Registry documents indicate the Brighton-area property was acquired earlier this year with a substantial mortgage.
Residents have spotted the Deputy Prime Minister at the flat since May, accompanied by her partner Sam Tarry, a former Labour MP.