Another embarrassing climbdown for Burnham as Angela Rayner says rent controls are NOT happening... days after he insisted they were being considered

By JAMES TAPSFIELD, UK POLITICAL EDITOR Published: 09:25, 24 July 2026 | Updated: 09:38, 24 July 2026 Andy Burnham's suggestion of rent controls looks to have been ditched in another embarrassing climbdown. The PM said earlier this week that the Goverment was 'looking at' the idea of freezes to help with the cost of living - something he has called for previously. But the prospect was seemingly killed off by Angela Rayner as she toured broadcast studios this morning.  The new House Secretary told BBC Breakfast: 'We won't be looking at rent controls... 'That is not something that we're looking to do because we've seen what's happened in areas like Scotland. It hasn't necessarily brought rents down. 'We see it as actually it's an aspiration... I think the work we've done to make sure that landlords are giving people fair rents, people can challenge rent hikes at tribunal now making sure that people are not being in bidding wars to get rents now is actually having an impact on the market, which is more favorable to renters, and I think that's a better way of stabilising the rental market.' The prospect of rent freezes was seemingly killed off by Angela Rayner as she toured broadcast studios this morning Reminded that Mr Burnham called for a freeze on private sector rents in the past, she said: 'I don't think that freezing rent freezes, rent controls is a way forward at the moment … three years ago Andy called for that because there was a significant crisis in the rental market. 'We implemented between then the Renters' Rights Act which is giving renters more power and control.' In a huddle with journalists earlier this week, Mr Burnham was asked if he would be looking at rent freezes among other policies to help ease the cost of living.  He said: 'We are looking at measures that could make a difference this year. So we are looking at all of those things... 'It's premature to say it will be any one of those particular things. We just want to do some things that people will feel and feel quite quickly.  'It won't solve everything, it won't take all of the pressure off but it just shows the direction of travel and that we're serious about helping them out.' Landlord groups have warned that controls would only cause chaos by choking off supply in the private rented sector.  Mr Burnham's habit of musing on policies has been causing confusion in the early days of his Government. The premier refused to rule out a 50p top rate of tax earlier this week - but aides then had to clarify that will not happen because it is a breach of the Labour manifesto. No10 poured cold water on Mr Burnham's suggestion that an increase in the personal allowance tax threshold is on the cards. That would cost the Treasury billions of pounds.  But the PM then came out to insist it might happen at the Budget after all. Mr Burnham's habit of musing on policies has been causing confusion in the early days of his Government During his Makerfield by-election campaign Mr Burnham committed to compensation for so-called WASPI women, who claim they were not properly informed about the rising state pension age. However, that was later ditched as it would cost the Government more than £10billion. The PM has also previously backed a 'land tax', replacing council tax and stamp duty with an annual levy based on the undeveloped value of land. But even Mr Burnham's mentor Lord Blunkett has warned that would be a political nightmare, with modelling suggesting it would leave some households in London and the South East paying tens of thousands of pounds a year and crash property prices.