Keir Starmer ditches plans to ban criminals from social housing list (2024)

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Sir Keir Starmer's government came under fire yesterday for dropping Tory plans to ban certain criminals from being given taxpayer-subsidised social housing.

The Housing department, led by the Prime Minister's deputy Angela Rayner, has revealed that the new Labour administration will keep convicted yobs, rioters and even terrorists on the housing list.

This is despite last week pledging a 'new clamp down on criminal and violent disorder' amid riots sweeping the country.

Sir Keir's government has also ditched the previous Tory administration's pledge to prioritise council and social housing for those with local and British connections over foreigners.

The shift was revealed in a written Parliamentary answer to a question tabled by the Tories' shadow housing secretary Kemi Badenoch, which was quietly slipped out on Friday.

This was the day after Sir Keir pledged a crackdown on thuggery amid rioting sparked by the mass stabbing of children at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport.

Asked if Labour was pressing ahead with the Tories' proposals, housing minister Matthew Pennycook replied: 'The Government does not intend to enact the policy proposals set out in the consultation in question. A formal response will be issued in due course.'

Last night Ms Badenoch blasted: 'Those who break the law, make neighbours' lives a misery or treat the UK as a hotel they're just passing through, should not be given subsidised housing.

'The public wants to know that only decent and hardworking people who have contributed to this country are given social housing.

'Labour's one day u-turn shows inconsistency and hypocrisy across government. There is no joined-up government between the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister.

'A day after Keir Starmer promises a crackdown, Angela Rayner gives a green light to yobs, rioters and terrorists.

'Worse, sending a public signal that social housing won't be fairly allocated to local people and law-abiding citizens threatens to undermine integration and widen community divisions.

'On so many levels, this is a deeply flawed decision by the Labour Government, and speaks volumes about their hostility to common sense British values.' The Tories' proposals were announced for consultation when it was in power on 30 January this year.

It built on previous proposed reforms to give preference for council and social housing to local residents and Armed Forces veterans.

They would have meant that people with unspent convictions for certain criminal anti-social behaviour being banned from getting social housing for up to five years.

Those who have a conviction for a terrorist offence would have been disqualified for life.

And people who could prove a 'connection to the UK for at least 10 years' or a 'local area for at least two years' would also have been prioritised.

It comes after it emerged earlier this year that 14 of the top 20 that let a higher proportion of social homes to foreigners than Britons are Labour-run.

A Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesperson said: 'Powers are already in place to make sure those convicted of an offence at the scene of a riot or anti-social behaviour can be excluded from social housing or evicted.

'If a person's immigration leave does not allow them recourse to public funds then they will not be eligible to receive social housing and there is no guarantee of social housing even when a person is eligible.'