Housing, Communities & Local Government - Rachel Hopkins MP for Luton South & South Bedfordshire

My Spring 2024 Survey

You can read more about Labour’s five missions for government at the link below.

Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill

Many constituents have contacted me to share their concerns about the Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill. Read the response I shared with constituents below. Full response: Thank you for contacting me about the Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill, which would prohibit public bodies from…

8,500 families in Luton South hit by Tory mortgage penalty

8.500 families in Luton South hit by Tory mortgage penalty as families face annual mortgage payment increase of £3,100 this year under the Conservatives Labour analysis reveals that the average household in Luton South is set to be put under more pressure than ever by Conservative mismanagement of the economy.  Analysis from…

Rachel Hopkins MP Responds to the Levelling Up White Paper

The Levelling Up White Paper fails Luton, says Rachel Hopkins MP Responding to the Conservative Government’s Levelling Up White Paper, Rachel Hopkins MP stated: “Today’s announcement is an attempt to divert attention away from the criminal investigation into the behaviour of the Prime Minister and Number 10. So, it’s unsurprising that the Conservative Party has failed to produce a transformational strategy…

Levelling Up Luton

‘Levelling up’ is nothing more than a hollow Tory strapline. Instead of improving living standards and opportunities in Luton South, the reality is a continuation of the underfunding that existed during Tory austerity. One-off capital project funding does not make up for the over £100m stripped from Luton Council’s budget…

Building Safety Bill Third Reading

Leaseholders in Luton South and across the UK shouldn’t have to foot the bill for remediating any cladding and non-cladding defects. Unanswered questions in the Building Safety Bill prolong the stress and suffering for many. Those that created the fire safety crisis must be made to fix it.

Labour’s Green Housing Plan

The cost of living crisis is hitting families in Luton South hard. With increasing energy bills, food costs, and regressive taxes, people have never needed a green housing retrofit programme more. The Labour Party‘s home insulation and zero-carbon heating plan would improve the UK’s energy security, create jobs and reduce…

Housing Climate Standards

The cost of living crisis is hitting families in Luton South hard. With increasing energy bills, food costs, and regressive taxes, people have never needed a green housing retrofit programme more. The Labour Party‘s home insulation and zero-carbon heating plan would improve the UK’s energy security, create jobs and reduce…

Visiting Mary Seacole Housing Association

Great to visit Mary Seacole Housing Association this morning and to meet the team. Really interesting to hear about their excellent work tackling homelessness and supporting young peoples’ development, as well as their community projects. Delighted to take part in filming for their ‘Let’s Not Forget’ heritage project too!

Funding for Local Government & Competitive Bidding Processes

Yesterday in HCLG Select Committee, I pressed Michael Gove MP on how one-off government grant funding to local authorities through a competitive process is undermining their ability to plan. Analysis by the Local Government Association found that a third of council grants are competitive. The government is creating winners and…

Rachel Hopkins MP Calls For Business Rate Reform

Labour forces vote on cutting business rates, as new figures show over 300,000 businesses at risk across the country   Labour MP Rachel Hopkins MP will today urge the government to cut business rates and support struggling businesses in Luton South. It comes as Rachel Hopkins MP also revealed new figures, based on…

Backing Luton’s Levelling Up Funding Bid

I’ve written to Michael Gove calling on the Government to back Luton’s bid to the Levelling Up Fund. Government investment in our town centre is long overdue and the ambitious bid proposed would have direct benefits for our community. You can read my full letter below.

Building Safety Bill Committee

I’m pleased to be serving on the Committee scrutinising the Conservative Government’s Building Safety Bill. The Committee Stage of the legislation process is where a detailed examination of the Bill takes place. The Bill Committee can take evidence from experts and interest groups from outside Parliament and table amendments to the Bill for discussion, which can be voted upon by Committee members. Once the Bill…

Building Safety Bill Committee – Matt Wrack FBU

In the #Building Safety Bill Committee, I asked Matt Wrack, General Secretary of the Fire Brigades Union, about how the new Building Safety Regulator will work with Fire and Rescue Services and Local Authorities. After 11 years of cuts, Fire and Rescue Services need to be properly resourced to effectively…

Making Housing Greener

Using sustainable energy is vital to reaching #NetZero. Towns like Luton, with low energy efficiency rated homes and high levels of deprivation, need support. In the Housing, Communities and Local Government Select Committee, I asked representatives from EnergyREV and Royal Town Planning Institute about how retrofitting should be funded.

Showing Shadow Minister for Planning Luton’s Housing Crisis

Thanks, Ruth Cadbury, Shadow Minister for Planning, for visiting Luton South to see how the #HousingCrisis is impacting local people. We also met with Luton Council portfolio holders Cllr Rob Roche, Cllr Sian Goding, and Cllr Tom Shaw to discuss the damaging impact of Permitted Development Rights and HMOs in…

Meeting With Leaseholders Affected By The Cladding Scandal

Yesterday, I met with leaseholders from Point Red, whose homes are covered in flammable cladding. Not all costs to rectify fire safety defects are being covered so they’re facing life-changing bills just to make their homes safe. Leaseholders shouldn’t have to pay a penny towards fire safety remediation costs. #EndOurCladdingScandal…

Unsafe Cladding

Thank you to those who have emailed regarding the McPartland–Smith Amendment to the Fire Safety Bill. As you are aware, the Fire Safety Bill is one of a number of Government Bills that are being introduced to update fire safety regulations in light of the recommendations of the inquiry into the Grenfell Tower fire…