Gove to be quizzed on Renters Reform Bill

Housing Secretary Michael Gove will address the main Conservative party Conference on Tuesday morning next week - but perhaps his most eagerly anticipated contribution will be to a fringe meeting. 

On Monday evening Gove will be the keynote speaker at Shelter’s fringe meeting, called A manifesto to fix the housing emergency.

It appears almost certain that the event will be an opportunity for critics to question Gove on the fate of the Renters Reform Bill, which some believe is being held up in the Commons because of unease amongst many Tory backbench MPs.

The conference agenda blurb says this of the Shelter event: “Everyone deserves to live in a home that is decent safe secure and affordable. Looking towards the next General Election join Shelter’s housing reception to hear about the policies that the Conservative Party must adopt to fix the housing emergency in the national interest.” 

Earlier in the day on Monday afternoon a fringe meeting called “Going private: reforming the UK’s rental market” takes place and includes housing minister Rachel Maclean and the chief executive of the National Residential Landlords Association, Ben Beadle.

The NRLA boss says: “Attendance at the party conferences is vital to ensuring landlords’ voices are heard by decision-makers and other stakeholders. It is critical the government gets it right when it comes to the PRS, which is why we are delighted Housing Minister Rachel Maclean will be joining us at the panel discussion, where we will take a deep dive into key issues impacting landlords and their businesses.

“Changing the dialogue when it comes to landlords and the PRS is one of the NRLA’s key priorities. We are not the enemy, and we want politicians to understand that landlords play a vital role in the provision of safe and secure housing in England.” 

There are many other housing-related fringe events too, including one likely to include debate on evictions and anti-social behaviour. Gove is participating in few of these meetings but housing minister Rachel Maclean is a speaker at over eight sessions.

On the final day of the conference, Wednesday, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak gives his keynote speech late in the morning.