Annabel Denham, IEA Director of Communications, has written for The Telegraph on the planned Levelling Up Bill announced in the Queen’s Speech, which would force commercial landlors to hold rental auctions in properties which have been vacant for upwards of 12 months.

Annabel argues that such legislation is ineffective and is in keeping with a pattern of surrendering property rights for short-term support.

“The problem with rental auctions is that most empty shops are that way because there are no longer viable retail businesses coming forward with an offer to pay rent.”

“This government has also shown a worrying willingness to seize assets based on decree. Since the Ukraine crisis, it has arbitrarily frozen individuals’ assets without any need to prove a case in court.”

“At one point, Justice Secretary Dominic Raab even suggested confiscating homes from supposed supporters of the Russian regime in order to house refugees.”

Read the full article here.