Tories slammed for copying Reform’s plan to evict foreign nationals from social housing
The party has been accused of chasing after Reform with this "divisive" policy
The Conservatives have been blasted for chasing after Reform with their plan to ban foreign nationals from social housing if they win power at the next election.
Speaking about the policy announced yesterday, Helen Whately, the Conservative shadow work and pensions secretary, said: “Making Britain your home should be earned by working, paying tax and integrating.
“It should not come with a free ride on the benefits system. Britain cannot be a cash machine for the world.”
The party has justified the “divisive” policy, saying that ending new tenancies for all foreign nationals, as well as current tenancies for couples where neither person is a UK, Irish or EU citizen would free up about 230,000 homes.
The housing secretary, Angela Rayner, has called the plans “unserious” and “unworkable”, and “would leave more families at risk of homelessness”.
Rayner highlighted that “People without ILR [Indefinite Leave to Remain] are already ineligible for social housing, so the Tories are targeting refugees and long-term UK residents who have contributed to this country but are not British citizens, including NHS staff”.
She added: “This unserious, unworkable proposal, copied from Reform, would do nothing to tackle the housing crisis the Tories themselves created.”
In June, Reform announced that if the party won power, it would ban all foreign nationals from social housing, and deport those unable to find private-rented accommodation within three months.
Sarah Elliott, Chief Executive of Shelter, also pointed to the “strict rules” dictating eligibility for social housing.
Elliott said: “Let’s set the record straight, there are already strict rules on eligibility for social housing. Homes are not handed out to people on arrival.
“To access social housing, you need to be legally settled, have recourse to public funds, pass a local connection test and have reached the top of the council waiting list.
“These divisive plans would brutally kick people out of their homes, including thousands of families and pensioners who have lived in them for decades.
“It is completely senseless to ruin people’s lives, drive up homelessness and put extreme pressure on councils,” she added.
Olivia Barber is a reporter at Left Foot Forward
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