conservative government criticized for equating living on the streets with a “way of life”

The British government defended its plan to attack homeless people who sleep in tents on the street on Sunday, November 5, after controversial comments from Interior Minister Suella Braverman, who described the phenomenon as “way of life”. According to Financial Timesthe project provides in particular for fines for associations helping the homeless if they provide tents.

The surge in prices for more than a year in the United Kingdom has led to an increase in poverty and the number of homeless people, especially as the country faces a serious housing crisis. “We cannot allow our streets to be invaded by entire rows of tents occupied by people, many from abroad, who have chosen to sleep on the streets as a lifestyle.” she wrote on X on Saturday.

“It is the government’s responsibility to be able to say, when the people concerned might be in a safer place, that we should not allow tent cities to develop.” Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden said on the BBC. He confirmed that the conservative government intended to legislate on the matter, as the Minister of the Interior had indicated the day before. Labor Mayor of London Sadiq Khan accused the government of “lack of compassion” with his project.