‘Of course it’s fair’: Minister defends controversial policy of prioritising social homes for those with ‘UK connection’
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.”
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.”
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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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The return on Donald Trump to the G7 was always going to be unpredictable. That it is happening against the backdrop of an escalating conflict in the Middle East makes it even more so.
Expectations had already been low, with the Canadian hosts cautioning against the normal joint communique at the end of the summit, mindful that this group of leaders would struggle to find consensus.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney carefully laid down an agenda that was uncontroversial in a bid to avoid any blow-ups between President Trump and allies, who of late have been divided like never before – be it over tariffs and trade, Russia and Ukraine, or, more recently Israel’s conduct in Gaza.
But discussions around critical minerals and global supply chains will undoubtedly drop down the agenda as leaders convene at a precarious moment. Keir Starmer, on his way over to Canada for a bi-lateral meeting in Ottawa with PM Carney before travelling onto the G7 summit in Kananaskis, underscored the gravity of the situation as he again spoke of de-escalation, while also confirmed that the UK was deploying more British fighter jets to the region amid threats from Tehran that it will attack UK bases if London helps defend Israel against airstrikes.
Canadian PM Mark Carney is greeted by President Donald Trump at the White House in May. Pic: AP
Really this is a G7 agenda scrambled as world leaders scramble to de-escalate the worst fighting between Tel Aviv and Tehran in decades. President Trump has for months been urging Israel not to strike Iran as he worked towards a diplomatic deal to halt uranium enrichment. Further talks had been due on Sunday – but are now not expected to go ahead.
All eyes will be on Trump in the coming days, to see if the US – Israel’s closest ally – will call on Israel to rein in its assault. The US has so far not participated in any joint attacks with Tel Aviv, but is moving warships and other military assets to the Middle East.
Sir Keir, who has managed to strike the first trade deal with Trump, will want to leverage his “good relationship” with the US leader at the G7 to press for de-escalation in the Middle East, while he also hopes to use the summit to further discuss the further the interests of Ukraine with Trump and raise again the prospects of Russian sanctions.
“We’ve got President Zelenskyy coming so that provides a good opportunity for us to discuss again as a group,” the PM told me on the flight over to Canada. “My long-standing view is, we need to get Russia to the table for an unconditional ceasefire. That’s not been really straightforward. But we do need to be clear about what we need to get to the table and that if that doesn’t happen, sanctions will undoubtedly be part of the discussion at the G7.”
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer (R) is greeted by Mark Carney as he arrives in Ottawa ahead of the G7
But that the leaders are not planning for a joint communique – a document outlining what the leaders have agreed – tells you a lot. When they last gathered with Trump in Canada for the G7 back in 2018, the US president rather spectacularly fell out with Justin Trudeau when the former Canadian president threatened to retaliate against US tariffs and refused to sign the G7 agreement.
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Since then, Trump has spoken of his desire to turn Canada into the 51st state of the US, a suggestion that helped catapult the Liberal Party beyond their Conservative rivals and back into power in the recent Canadian elections, as Mark Carney stood on a ticket of confronting Trump’s aggression.
With so much disagreement between the US and allies, it is hard to see where progress might be made over the next couple of days. But what these leaders will agree on is the need to take down the temperature in the Middle East and for all the unpredictability around these relationships, what is certain is a sense of urgency around Iran and Israel that could find these increasingly disparate allies on common ground.
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