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The government has defended plans to prioritise social housing for British citizens and those with “close connections” to the UK as “fair”, despite charities criticising it as divisive.

Housing minister Lee Rowley said social housing was a “finite resource” and the government wanted to “make sure that we use it in a way which works”.

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Under the plans, applicants for social housing would have to demonstrate a connection to the UK for at least 10 years and their local area for at least two years, in what ministers are describing as an “overhaul” of the system.

People with unspent criminal convictions or certain civil sanctions for anti-social behaviour could also be banned from social housing for up to five years, while those who “repeatedly make their neighbours’ lives hell” through anti-social behaviour also face eviction under a “three strikes and you’re out” policy.

Speaking to Sky News, Mr Rowley said housing was “always going to be a finite resource”.

“We want to make sure that we use it in a way which works, which supports the people who need it but is also fair.”

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Asked what would happen to people who were either not British or had not lived here for a long time, Mr Rowley said they could rely on the private rented sector, while those who are homeless would be helped by the government into temporary accommodation.

Pressed on whether the plans were “fair”, the minister replied: “Of course it’s fair – it’s fair that people who’ve been here for a long time who have paid into the system get the access to social housing, which is a precious and finite resource.”

Charities have criticised the announcement, with Shelter branding it “scapegoating at its worst”.

“It is unnecessary, unenforceable and unjust,” it said. “If the government genuinely wants to tackle the housing emergency there’s a clear solution: we need more social homes.”

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‘We’re not building enough houses’

The charity went on to say there were already “stringent” rules that meant only UK citizens or those with settled status could access homes for social rent.

“This is nothing but blaming a group of people for a housing emergency they did not create,” it said.

Labour frontbencher Peter Kyle said measures were introduced under the last Labour government that ensured that people who came to the UK had to work for a certain period of time before they could access housing benefit.

“It is right that people who are in areas where there is a real acute challenge with housing know that housing should go to people who are already born and raised in certain communities because if they believe people are coming in, it can damage the fabric of that community,” he said.

“But let’s just be clear about what the real challenge is here – we’re not building enough houses.

“With a Labour government, if we get one in the election this year, we will build a million houses every year, because we need to make sure we get back to the fact that we are backing the builders and not always being dragged back by the blockers in the Conservative Party.”

Read more on Sky News:
Mother forced to live in a damp ridden home was scared she was ‘going to die’
The housing battle – which party will get Britain building?

The policy, which was announced last night, could also see terrorists with certain convictions blocked from living in social homes while new social tenants on high incomes may also no longer qualify.

The salary threshold is yet to be determined, so existing tenants would not be affected.

The government has said it wants to bring in the reforms “as soon as possible” but is now carrying out an eight-week consultation that will run until 26 March.

It has suggested some of the measures may be implemented by secondary legislation which would mean they do not require a vote in parliament.

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After six months of planning, Reform’s immigration policy is as clear as mud

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After six months of planning, Reform's immigration policy is as clear as mud

Reform’s plan was meant to be detailed. Instead, there’s more confusion.

The party had grown weary of the longstanding criticism that their tough talk on immigration did not come with a full proposal for what they would do to tackle small boats if they came to power.

So, after six months of planning, yesterday they attempted to put flesh on to the bones of their flagship policy.

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At an expensive press conference in a vast airhanger in Oxford, the headline news was clear: Reform UK would deport anyone who comes here by small boat, arresting, detaining and then deporting up to 600,000 people in the first five years of governing.

They would leave international treaties and repeal the Human Rights Act to do it

But, one day later, that policy is clear as mud when it comes to who this would apply to.

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Nigel Farage launched an airport-style departures board to illustrate how many illegal migrants have arrived in the UK. Pic: PA
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Nigel Farage launched an airport-style departures board to illustrate how many illegal migrants have arrived in the UK. Pic: PA

I asked Farage at the time of the announcement whether this would apply to women and girls – an important question – as the basis for their extreme policy seemed to hinge on the safety of women and girls in the UK.

He was unequivocal: “Yes, women and children, everybody on arrival will be detained.

“And I’ve accepted already that how we deal with children is a much more complicated and difficult issue.”

But a day later, he appeared to row back on this stance at a press conference in Scotland, saying Reform is “not even discussing women and children at this stage”.

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He later clarified that if a single woman came by boat, then they could fall under the policy, but if “a woman comes with children, we will work out the best thing to do”.

A third clarification in the space of 24 hours on a flagship policy they worked on over six months seems like a pretty big gaffe, and it only feeds into the Labour criticism that these plans aren’t yet credible.

If they had hoped to pivot from rhetoric to rigour, this announcement showed serious pitfalls.

But party strategists probably will not be tearing out too much hair over this, with polling showing Reform UK still as the most trusted party on the issue of immigration overall.

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Crypto trader ups MEXC ‘bounty’ to $2.5M after in-person KYC request

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Crypto trader ups MEXC ‘bounty’ to .5M after in-person KYC request

Crypto trader ups MEXC ‘bounty’ to .5M after in-person KYC request

The “White Whale” increased his social media pressure campaign to $2.5 million after claiming that MEXC requested an in-person KYC verification in Malaysia.

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US appeals time served sentences for HashFlare Ponzi schemers

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US appeals time served sentences for HashFlare Ponzi schemers

US appeals time served sentences for HashFlare Ponzi schemers

Prosecutors appealed the sentences given to HashFlare founders Sergei Potapenko and Ivan Turõgin, after arguing the pair should get 10 years in prison.

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