Claire Coutinho said she “wouldn’t necessarily use the language” of the home secretary – who has been criticised for describing rough sleeping as a “lifestyle choice” – saying the reasons for homelessness are “complex and varied”.
By Alexandra Rogers, Political reporter @Journoamrogers
A government minister has contradicted Suella Braverman’s description of rough sleeping as a “lifestyle choice”, saying she “wouldn’t necessarily use that language”.
Energy Secretary Claire Coutinho appeared to be at odds with the home secretary, who has faced a backlash for describing rough sleeping as a “lifestyle choice” as she outlined her desire to restrict the use of tents by homeless people in UK towns and cities.
Ms Braverman said many of those who sleep in tents are “from abroad” and insisted there was no need given the alternatives and support available to rough sleepers.
The home secretary also suggested the UK will follow the likes of San Francisco and Los Angeles in the US, where “weak policies have led to an explosion of crime, drug taking, and squalor”, if action is not taken.
The crackdown would reportedly target “nuisance” tents, such as those blocking shop doorways, and include charities that hand out camping equipment being fined.
Asked by Sky’s Kay Burley whether she agreed with the home secretary’s comments, Ms Coutinho revealed she used to work with people who were homeless and that she “wouldn’t necessarily use the language of ‘lifestyle choice’ as the reasons for homelessness are “complex and varied”.
Ms Coutinho said Ms Braverman had in her comments “distinguished that a lot of people who end up in that position are struggling, for example, with addiction issues”.
“She wasn’t talking about those people,” she added.
“I think the most important thing is that for all of those people, what we want is for them to have a warm home, a roof over their heads, because ultimately sleeping on the streets, becoming entrenched in that lifestyle – that’s no life for anyone.”
Braverman criticises protests
Pressed on whether Ms Braverman “misspoke”, the energy secretary replied: “I think she was talking about different things.
“She acknowledged that there are people who just, you know, they need our compassion. They’re struggling with things like addiction. They need help and support. And that’s exactly what the plans are, by the way.
“But she also talked about people, I think, who are nuisance begging, who are working in organised groups.
“And I think it’s right that we make sure that we’re getting people off the streets into safe accommodation and also making sure that our neighbourhoods feel safe for people as well.”
Labour’s shadow leader of the Commons Lucy Powell said it was “despicable” to describe homelessness as a lifestyle choice and that the government was seeking to divide people.
She told Sky News: “I think the comments of the home secretary are despicable, really.
“And they speak to what this government’s whole meaning now seems to be about, which is creating more division, where division isn’t needed, by trying to inflame and sort of false wedge political issues.
“We all see the consequences of those sleeping rough.
“It’s heart-breaking to see in the vast majority of cases – it’s people who have nowhere else to go and who have a multitude of issues that they face that they need to deal with that have left them where they are at that time, sleeping rough.”
Home Sec’s comments ‘despicable’
Writing on X, formerly known as Twitter, Ms Braverman said: “The British people are compassionate. We will always support those who are genuinely 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.
“Nobody in Britain should be living in a tent on our streets. There are options for people who don’t want to be sleeping rough, and the government is working with local authorities to strengthen wraparound support including treatment for those with drug and alcohol addiction.
“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.”
Labour MP Jess Phillips said: “My brother was a rough sleeper, unlike Suella Braverman he has dedicated his life in gratitude to the fact he still has it to the service and help of others.
“He’d be a better home secretary than her but then again a cardboard box would be a better home secretary than her.”
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Liberal Democrat MP Alistair Carmichael accused the home secretary of “grim politics from a desperate Conservative government which knows its day are numbered”.
“It is a new low for Braverman to criminalise homeless charities for simply trying to keep vulnerable people warm and dry in winter,” he said.
“The British public raise millions of pounds for homeless people at this time of year, and the government’s response is to criminalise those charities trying to help.
“This policy will do nothing to stop rough sleeping and will leave vulnerable people to face the harsh weather conditions without any shelter whatsoever.”
William Turner is a seasoned U.K. correspondent with a deep understanding of domestic affairs. With a passion for British politics and culture, he provides insightful analysis and comprehensive coverage of events within the United Kingdom.
