Last Updated: November 05, 2023, 09:58 IST
London, United Kingdom (UK)
Braverman argued that unless the government acted, British cities would go the way of places in the U.S. like San Francisco and Los Angeles. (Reuters File Photo)
UK’s interior minister Suella Braverman proposes homeless tent restrictions, facing criticism from opposition
British Interior Minister Suella Braverman has promised to propose new laws to limit the use of tents by homeless people in the country, saying many of them see it as “a lifestyle choice”. In a series of posts on X, the Indian-origin minister said the state would always support those who are genuinely homeless.
“The British people are compassionate. We will always support those who are genuinely homeless. But we cannot allow our streets to be taken over by rows of tents occupied by people, many of them from abroad, living on the streets as a lifestyle choice,” she said.
The British people are compassionate. We will always support those who are genuinely homeless. But we cannot allow our streets to be taken over by rows of tents occupied by people, many of them from abroad, living on the streets as a lifestyle choice. 1/4 https://t.co/fT1Ou5kD5Q— Suella Braverman MP (@SuellaBraverman) November 4, 2023
The Conservative leader argued that unless the government acted, British cities would “go the way of places in the US like San Francisco and Los Angeles, where weak policies have led to an explosion of crime, drug taking, and squalor.” She said there were options for people who did not want to be sleeping rough, and the government was working with local government to increase support.
“What I want to stop, and what the law abiding majority wants us to stop, is those who cause nuisance and distress to other people by pitching tents in public spaces, aggressively begging, stealing, taking drugs, littering, and blighting our communities,” Braverman added.
She was slammed by Angela Rayner, the opposition Labour Party’s deputy leader, who said on X: “Rough sleeping is not ‘a lifestyle choice’,” and blamed increased homelessness on 13 years of Conservative government. Homelessness charity Shelter was also critical of Braverman. “Let’s make it clear: living on the streets is not a ‘lifestyle choice’ – it is a sign of failed government policy,” it said on X.
Rough sleeping is not a “lifestyle choice”.A toxic mix of rising rents and failure to end no-fault evictions is hitting vulnerable people. After years of delay the Tories are failing on their promises.
Now after 13 years, they’re blaming homeless people rather than themselves.
— Angela Rayner (@AngelaRayner) November 4, 2023
The government’s new legislative programme will be outlined in the King’s Speech on Tuesday. In September, Braverman called for a global overhaul of the approach towards immigration, which is likely to be a key issue at Britain’s general election expected next year. That speech was criticised by human rights campaigners, opposition politicians and even some members of her own party.
(With agency inputs)