Advertisement
Housing

Labour manifesto’s ‘vague’ plans on homelessness unpicked: ‘Next to nothing for those on the margins’

Starmer’s manifesto promises to get the country ‘back on track’ to ending homelessness. Is it enough?

Keir Starmer’s manifesto has been criticised for “vague references to homelessness” and offering “next to nothing” for those on the margins, after the Labour leader unveiled his programme for government at an event in Manchester.

Labour’s manifesto, launched on Thursday (14 June) does not include a clear target on reducing rough sleeping, instead promising a “new cross-government strategy” designed to “put Britain back on track to ending homelessness”.

Poverty is mentioned 14 times in the 136-page document – in comparison to just once in Rishi Sunak’s 80-page manifesto.

Big Issue is demanding an end to extreme poverty. Will you ask your MP to join us?

“While both major parties trawl their vote-winning lines towards first-time buyers in the hopes of getting a bite from the youth, next-to-nothing is being said or done for those struggling on the margins,” said Ashley Horsey, chief executive at social justice charity Commonweal Housing.

“As services struggle and rents rise, there is an urgent need for cross-departmental thinking and a robust youth homelessness strategy; we join our sector colleagues in calling for the next government to prioritise the overlooked and locked out generation.” 

Advertisement
Advertisement

The number of people sleeping rough in England has more than doubled since the Conservatives came to power – despite a 2019 manifesto promise to eliminate it completely. Rishi Sunak’s 2024 manifesto pledges to “continue with our plans to end rough sleeping”.

While rough sleeping remains lower than its 2017 peak of 4,751 people, the number of households living in temporary accommodation is increasing, with 112,660 households as of May 2024.

“It’s disappointing to see only vague references to homelessness in this manifesto. We would have liked to have seen targeted pledges to end the homelessness crisis. Even key, popular commitments such as scrapping the Vagrancy Act and raising the Local Housing Allowance in line with inflation haven’t been considered,” said Sian Aldridge, Interim CEO of Welsh homelessness and rough sleeping charity The Wallich.

The manifesto does not appear to commit the party to any new spending on ending homelessness. However, policies such as youth hubs, 8,500 additional mental health staff, and an end to Section 21 evictions target the causes of homelessness.

Aldridge added: “We do agree with the principles which Labour has highlighted in Manchester, which demonstrates a joined-up approach between health, probation and housing. We see this as beneficial to preventing the revolving door of homelessness.

In pledging to work with mayors and councils across the country, Labour – if elected – will look to build on work including in London, where mayor Sadiq Khan has committed £10m in extra funding towards ending rough sleeping, and in Manchester, where Andy Burnham’s A Bed Every Night scheme and three-year Housing First project are part of efforts to get people off the streets.

In 2019, Jeremy Corbyn’s manifesto promised to end rough sleeping within five years, and make 8,000 extra homes additional for those with a history of rough sleeping. In 1997, Tony Blair promised a new duty on local authorities to help those living homeless. He gave no firm targets – but within two years had pledged to cut rough sleeping by two-thirds.

“We have one plea for the next government, include young people and their specific needs from the outset,” said Phil Kerry, chief executive of the New Horizon youth charity. Youth homelessness costs the economy £8.5bn a year, added Alicia Walker, head of policy, campaigns and research at Centrepoint.

Kerry explained: “Youth homelessness is a different experience with different solutions. We need young people to be treated as an equal stakeholder in this new unit, with representatives and dedicated resources. You can’t meaningfully end youth homelessness in the UK without youth homelessness being a priority.”

Do you have a story to tell or opinions to share about this? Get in touch and tell us moreBig Issue exists to give homeless and marginalised people the opportunity to earn an income. To support our work buy a copy of the magazine or get the app from the App Store or Google Play.

Advertisement

Buy a Big Issue Vendor Support Kit

This Christmas, give a Big Issue vendor the tools to keep themselves warm, dry, fed, earning and progressing.

Recommended for you

Read All
Rents in UK are rising at highest rate in decades. Will they keep going up?
rents uk
Renting

Rents in UK are rising at highest rate in decades. Will they keep going up?

Labour must scrap controversial 200-year-old law criminalising rough sleeping: 'We're still waiting'
A homeless person's tent on the street
Rough sleeping

Labour must scrap controversial 200-year-old law criminalising rough sleeping: 'We're still waiting'

Labour promises £1bn to tackle homelessness in shift towards prevention: 'It's time to turn the tide'
Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner
Homelessness

Labour promises £1bn to tackle homelessness in shift towards prevention: 'It's time to turn the tide'

'We are sick and tired': Hundreds of renters demand 'rent controls now' in Christmas protest
Renters march down London's Oxford Street holding a banner demanding 'rent controls now'
RENTING

'We are sick and tired': Hundreds of renters demand 'rent controls now' in Christmas protest

Most Popular

Read All
Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits
Renters: A mortgage lender's window advertising buy-to-let products
1.

Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal
Pound coins on a piece of paper with disability living allowancve
2.

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over
next dwp cost of living payment 2023
3.

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over

Citroën Ami: the tiny electric vehicle driving change with The Big Issue
4.

Citroën Ami: the tiny electric vehicle driving change with The Big Issue