Keir Starmer under fire for NOT saying landlords are “working people”

Keir Starmer under fire for NOT saying landlords are “working people”

10:26 AM, 25th October 2024, About 2 months ago 37

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The Prime Minister has slammed landlords by not confirming they are “working people”.

In an interview with Sky News, Keir Starmer struggled to define a “working person” but says people who earn income through property or shares are not working people.

The issue is important because the Labour election manifesto promised not to raise taxes for working people – which means landlords should prepare for a tax hit in next week’s Budget.

Mr Starmer’s comments come as a cabinet minister also refused to say six times on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme whether landlords are working people.

The NRLA have hit back at the Prime Minister’s comments, describing them as stoking misconceptions about landlords.

Wouldn’t come under my definition

When asked to define a working person Mr Starmer said: “A working person is somebody who goes out and earns their living, usually paid in a sort of monthly cheque.

“People who go out and work hard and maybe save a bit of money but can not write a cheque to get out of difficulties.”

Beth Rigby on Sky News, slammed the Prime Minister for his broad definition of working people and pressed on whether his definition of a “working person” includes those who earn part or all of their income from property or shares.

Mr Starmer said: “Well, they wouldn’t come within my definition.”

The Prime Minister then refused to rule out a tax rise for landlords in the upcoming budget.

According to the Daily Mail, Downing Street later tried to calm the storm following the Prime Minister’s remarks, insisting that individuals who hold a small amount of savings in stocks and shares still qualify as ‘working.’

The PM’s official spokesman stated that Mr Starmer was referring to Britons who primarily earn their income from assets.

NRLA reaction

According to the government’s most recent English Private Landlords Survey in 2021, 30% of landlords were employed full-time and 10% part-time.

Ben Beadle, chief executive of the National Residential Landlords Association, said: “It is simply not true that landlords are not working people.

“Official data shows that 30% of landlords are employed full-time, with a further 10% working part-time. 28% are self-employed in some way, while 35% are retired and are likely to rely on their rental income for their pension.

“Rather than stoking misconceptions, the government needs to focus instead on the key challenge in the rental market, namely a lack of homes to rent to meet ever-growing demand.”

Refused six times

Mr Starmer’s comments come as a cabinet minister refused six times to say whether a landlord is a working person.

Nick Robinson on the BBC Radio 4 Today programme asked Treasury Minister James Murray whether people who earn money from assets – such as landlords – are ‘working people’

Mr Murray simply said: “Our manifesto said we would protect working people by not raising income tax, national insurance or VAT and we will keep that promise.”

The interview with Sky News can be seen below at 6:00


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GlanACC

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8:50 AM, 31st October 2024, About 2 months ago

Reply to the comment left by David West at 31/10/2024 - 08:46
By the NI definition, you are an investor and not working.

I once had 18 properties but even them I only used to spend half a day a week managing them (and I didn't use a letting agent. So would I class that as working , no not really (I was working though as I had other businesses to run).

I know some others on this forum (Mick Roberts) would be classed as working as he spend all his time manging his properties.

David West

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8:58 AM, 31st October 2024, About 2 months ago

Reply to the comment left by GlanACC at 31/10/2024 - 08:50
With respect, I have 28 Properties, keep my own accounts and manage them all myself including general repairs. I spend at least 30 hrs a week doing this. I consider that I do still work.

JB

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9:01 AM, 31st October 2024, About 2 months ago

Reply to the comment left by GlanACC at 31/10/2024 - 08:50
Maybe that was before the amount of ar*e covering and admin exploded

Mick Roberts

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9:32 AM, 31st October 2024, About 2 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Reluctant Landlord at 29/10/2024 - 10:34
U right, I just can't do it though. Got tenant now who I issued Section 21 too in May. She moved out, told me I can sell the house, she moved back in. Buyer day before exchange pulled out.
Got possession order yesterday. I'm trying me best to keep her as she's having 3rd baby in Nov.
But it's also my life too. What about me. Gedling Council it appears don't help with paying arrears, new tenancy set up with Letting agency etc. as I will then set up compliant tenancy for new Landlord, lose money on house sale for new Landlord, she can always afford £140 top up plus 3 bed LHA rate.
But Gedling would rather send her to Nottingham Council who will pay £3000pm to put her in hotel.

Mick Roberts

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9:35 AM, 31st October 2024, About 2 months ago

Reply to the comment left by JB at 31/10/2024 - 09:01
Ha ha that's a good point. I used to say to tenants tell me when ote wrong & that worked.
Now it's what would Govt & Council like me to do for them today?
Ooh Ed Miliband got in, & he's just asked us to shell out £1 million each & an extra 30 hours pw working 4am till 9pm now. That's helping tenants get a house isn't it.

Dylan Morris

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11:02 AM, 31st October 2024, About 2 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Mick Roberts at 31/10/2024 - 09:35
Ed Miliband the guy who wants to spend £22 billion taking carbon dioxide out of the air and storing it underground.

GlanACC

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11:29 AM, 31st October 2024, About 2 months ago

I wouldn't dispute that any landlord was a 'worker', it all depends on what you do. A lot of these post are from landlords that repair their own properties. I couldn't do that as my other business kept me working in Germany.

The issue is that the government doesn't class being a landlord as being a business.

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