Red Ed today announces that a Labour government will impose new caps on rent increases on buy-to-let homes. His shadow housing minister Emma Reynolds is doing the rounds explaining why she supports what are effectively good old-fashioned rent controls:

“A third of renters are families with children. That’s why a Labour government will deliver 3 year tenancies with a ceiling on rent increases. We need more stability for tenants and landlords. Labour will introduce a fairer deal for both, Ed Miliband will set out reforms today.”

That’s not what Emma used to say. In January she went on Channel 4 News and told Cathy Newman:

“Rent controls are not going to work in practice.”

You said it…