Cabinet minister Gillian Keegan today admitted homeless people ‘should not be arrested just because they smell’ as she was challenged over planned new laws.
The Education Secretary was grilled about Government plans to tackle ‘nuisance’ rough sleepers, amid the threat of a Conservative revolt against fresh legislation.
Tory backbenchers are plotting a rebellion against new powers in PM Rishi Sunak‘s Criminal Justice Bill, which has been branded ‘completely unacceptable’.
Under the legislation, those deemed to be ‘nuisance’ rough sleepers could be fined up to £2,500 or even jailed if they refuse orders to move on from a certain location.
The Bill states that rough sleepers might be considered a ‘nuisance’ if there is ‘excessive smell’, if they display ‘intimidating’ signs, or cause litter.
But the plans, initially drawn up by former home secretary Suella Braverman, have infuriated many on the Tory benches in the House of Commons.
Ms Keegan was quizzed about the Bill during an interview with Sky News‘ Kay Burley this morning, who told the Cabinet minister ‘it’s not funny’ after she appeared to smile when answering a question.
Education Secretary Gillian Keegan was grilled about Government plans to tackle ‘nuisance’ rough sleepers during an interview with Sky News’ Kay Burley
Tory backbenchers are plotting a rebellion against new powers to deal with rough sleeping in PM Rishi Sunak’s Criminal Justice Bill, which has been branded ‘completely unacceptable’
Ms Keegan said she would support Government policy but told Sky News that people ‘should not be arrested just if they smell’.
She added: ‘I haven’t looked at that detail of it, but I guess the word is “excessive”, and I don’t know what they mean by that.’
The Education Secretary said she disagreed with Mrs Braverman’s past description of rough sleeping as a ‘lifestyle choice’, saying: ‘Normally, people have had a lot of hardship before they get to that point.’
She said the Government needed to strike a balance between supporting rough sleepers into accommodation and employment, and ensuring members of the public were protected from ‘aggressive’ begging or other ‘nuisance’.
According to The Times, more than 40 Conservative MPs – including most of the One Nation group of moderate Tories – have made it clear they will vote against the Criminal Justice Bill.
The newspaper reported the Government had ‘paused’ the legislation while ministers negotiate with rebels.
Business minister Kevin Hollinrake yesterday refused to say whether he supports the current plans for dealing with ‘nuisance’ rough sleepers.
Asked if he was supporting the legislation as it stands, he told Times Radio: ‘Those things are not within my auspices.
‘I’ll be interested to see the legislation as it goes through. And what the what the Prime Minister has planned.’
More than 40 Conservative MPs – including most of the One Nation group of moderate Tories – have reportedly made it clear they will vote against the PM’s Criminal Justice Bill
Business minister Kevin Hollinrake refused to say whether he supports the current plans for dealing with ‘nuisance’ rough sleepers
Ahead of the 2019 general election, the Tories pledged to ‘end the blight of rough sleeping’ by the end of the next Parliament.
Quizzed about whether the Government was now trying to meet that promise by criminalising homeless people, Mr Hollinrake replied: ‘That’s just part of the things we’re looking to do in terms of making sure that people don’t sleep on the streets.
‘That’s not right, we want to provide the resources for people – housing, improving the number of refuges people can sleep in, and the amount of social housing and affordable housing, which we’ve done.
‘About 700,000 more affordable homes than there were in 2010. So significant progress we have made in terms of these kind of issues.
‘But nevertheless, there’s a lot to do and it’s important we’ve created ways to try and deal with those issues.’
Pressed on whether it was right to arrest, fine or jail someone if they are considered to be a ‘nuisance’ by sleeping rough, Mr Hollinrake added: ‘The most important thing is we provide the resources to get people off the streets.
‘And there should be those places where people can go to. But… that shouldn’t be optional for people. If there are places that people can go to off the streets, then those people should be off the streets.
‘They shouldn’t be lying on the streets. It’s not fair to other people in our town or city centres.’
The proposed legislation states that rough sleepers might be considered a ‘nuisance’ if there is ‘excessive smell’, if they display ‘intimidating’ signs, or cause litter
Senior Tory backbencher Bob Blackman is leading a campaign to introduce amendments to the Bill that would remove the new police powers
Amid the backlash at the Government’s plans, critics of the Bill claim the current proposals would simply ‘punish people being homeless’.
Senior Tory backbencher Bob Blackman is leading a campaign to introduce amendments to the Bill that would remove the new police powers.
He is being supported by former Conservative leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith and fellow ex-Cabinet minister Damian Green, the chairman of the One Nation group of Tory MPs.
Mr Blackman told The Times: ‘A lot of colleagues believe that the Bill as it stands is completely unacceptable because it would have the effect of criminalising people who have no choice but to sleep on the streets. We are urging ministers to think again.’
Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran said: ‘The heartless proposals in the Criminal Justice Bill risk bringing back the Vagrancy Act by the back door.
‘The Government should listen to their own backbenchers and take a compassionate approach to tackling homelessness, instead of stigmatising and criminalising rough sleepers.
‘Sleeping rough is not a lifestyle choice. Ministers should focus on tackling the root causes of this crisis, not scapegoating the victims of it.’
Polly Neate, chief executive of the charity Shelter, said: ‘Parliament must not enact this legislation. Instead of punishing people for being homeless, politicians should be trying to prevent them from ending up on the streets.
‘Everyone at risk of sleeping rough should have a right to suitable emergency accommodation, and to end homelessness for good it must invest in genuinely affordable social homes — we need 90,000 a year.’