UK prime minister Rishi Sunak has refused to criticise the British home secretary’s claim that rough sleeping is sometimes a “lifestyle choice” but stopped short of repeating her comments.
Mr Sunak, who visited the Bacton Gas Terminal in Norfolk on Monday, was pressed on whether such language was “offensive” after another senior Cabinet minister distanced herself from Suella Braverman’s remarks.
Mrs Braverman has been criticised by opposition politicians and the charity sector after suggesting she wants to place restrictions on the use of tents on public streets.
“I don’t want anyone to sleep rough on our streets,” Mr Sunak said.
“That’s why the government is investing £2 billion over the next few years to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping. I’m pleased that the number of people sleeping rough is down by a third since the peak, but of course there is more to do.
“Our Homelessness Reduction Act, which is a landmark law that we passed, has already ensured that over 600,000 people have had their homelessness prevented or relieved. So I’m proud of that record.
“But, of course, there is more to do, and we’ll keep going so that nobody has to sleep rough on our streets.”
It was reported over the weekend that Mrs Braverman has proposed establishing a civil offence to deter charities from giving tents to homeless people.
Organisations could be fined for doing so if it is deemed to have caused a nuisance under the plans being pitched for inclusion in the King’s Speech, which will set out the UK government’s legislative agenda on Tuesday.
The potential law would also seek to prevent the obstruction of shop doorways by rough sleepers who are using tents, the FT said.
In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, the British home secretary said the UK should not become San Francisco or Los Angeles and warned against rough sleeping becoming a “lifestyle choice”.
“We will always support those who are genuinely homeless,” Mrs Braverman said.
Energy secretary Claire Coutinho moved on Monday to distance herself from the comments.
The minister said she “wouldn’t necessarily use” the language the home secretary used to talk about homelessness.
Ms Coutinho told Times Radio: “Before I came to Parliament I did a lot of work in social justice. I actually worked with people who were homeless, and I think the reasons that people get into that position are complex and very varied, so I wouldn’t necessarily use the language of ‘lifestyle choice’.
“I think, actually, in her tweet and thread, she distinguished that a lot of people who end up in that position are struggling, for example with addiction issues – she wasn’t talking about those people.
“I think the most important thing is that, for all of those people, what we want is for them to have a warm home, a roof over their heads, support and help for the challenges that they face.”
Housing charity Shelter was among those who condemned the remarks. In a statement, it said: “Living on the streets is not a ‘lifestyle choice’ – it is a sign of failed government policy.”
The UK Home Office has said it cannot comment on what might feature in the King’s Speech, but a spokesperson said it wants to “ensure our communities feel safe and secure”.
