**Garden Wars: Corbyn Clashes with Rayner Over Allotment Sales**

Jeremy Corbyn has voiced strong criticism against former Labour colleague Angela Rayner for her controversial decision to approve the sale of land at eight allotment sites since the last general election. Allotments, precious plots where residents grow their own food, are generally protected by the Allotment Act 1925, allowing sales only under stringent conditions set by ministers.

In a letter to the Telegraph, Corbyn, an avid allotmenteer, reminisced about the joy of cultivating produce, like his favorite vegetable, the marrow. He passionately argued that these sales threaten the survival of these crucial green spaces, stating that losing such land is akin to a grotesque abuse of power reminiscent of historical land enclosures. These enclosures, he believes, forced the rural poor away from their land, leading to suffering and migration to industrial cities.

Corbyn highlighted the continued importance of allotments, noting that one in eight people in the UK lack access to gardens, a figure that rises to one in five in London. Currently, around 100,000 people are on waiting lists for allotments, with some languishing for decades.

Rayner’s approval of the allotment sales has sparked significant controversy, particularly as the sites earmarked for development are located across regions like Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire, and West Sussex. While recognizing the urgent need for social housing, Corbyn condemned the idea of sacrificing community allotments for housing projects, suggesting alternatives such as repurposing industrial land and ensuring new developments include community gardens.

The government’s stance is that allotments should only be sold ‘where it is clearly necessary and offers value for money’, reaffirming their importance to community well-being. However, critics, including the Conservatives, have branded the policy a ’kick in the teeth’ for those lacking garden access, urging stronger protections for these vital community assets. Corbyn’s passionate call to action highlights the ongoing battle for green spaces, positioning allotments as essential for both environmental sustainability and community health.