UK plans new legislation to curb the 'use of tents' by homeless

As many homeless individuals view tent camping as “a lifestyle choice,” British interior minister Suella Braverman announced on Saturday that her government would suggest new legislation restricting the use of tents by the homeless.

Braverman, who is thought to be a potential future head of the ruling Conservative Party, stated in a post on X that the government would always assist individuals who are truly homeless.

“But we cannot allow our streets to be taken over by rows of tents occupied by people, many of them from abroad, living on the streets as a lifestyle choice,” she continued.

Government inaction, according to Braverman, would cause British cities to “go the way of places in the U.S. like San Francisco and Los Angeles, where weak policies have led to an explosion of crime, drug taking, and squalor.”

She stated that those who did not want to sleep on the streets had options, and that the federal government was collaborating with local authorities to provide more assistance.

“What I want to stop, and what the law abiding majority wants us to stop, is those who cause nuisance and distress to other people by pitching tents in public spaces, aggressively begging, stealing, taking drugs, littering, and blighting our communities,” Braverman said.

The deputy head of the opposition Labour Party, Angela Rayner, criticized her on X, stating that rough camping is not “a lifestyle choice” and blaming the rise in homelessness on 13 years of Conservative rule.

Homeless assistance Braverman was also criticized by Shelter.

“Let’s make it clear: living on the streets is not a ‘lifestyle choice’ – it is a sign of failed government policy,” it stated on X.

In Tuesday’s King’s Speech, the government will lay out its new legislative agenda.

Braverman demanded in September a global rethinking of immigration policy, which is expected to be a major topic of discussion at Britain’s general election in 2019.

Human rights advocates, opposition lawmakers, and even some of her own family members criticized her remarks.
(with inputs from agency)