Tories Accuse Starmer of Igniting Asylum Housing Frustrations

In a recent exchange of accusations, newly-appointed shadow housing secretary Sir James Cleverly has claimed that Sir Keir Starmer, leader of the Labour Party, is exacerbating public frustration regarding the housing of asylum seekers. Speaking on BBC Radio 4, Cleverly criticized the Prime Minister for stating that there is “lots of housing available” for the increasing numbers of homeless individuals and asylum seekers.

Response to Housing Crisis

Cleverly emphasized that the Prime Minister’s comments reflect a significant disconnect from the realities faced by many. “It’s that kind of disconnect that I think is driving real frustration and that’s what I want to address,” he said during the Today programme. The Conservative MP’s remarks come as Labour has pledged to deliver 1.5 million homes to alleviate the ongoing housing crisis in the UK.

A spokesperson for Labour highlighted that the country continues to suffer from the “disastrous decision” made by the Conservatives to abolish mandatory housing targets. The spokesperson stated, “While Labour is working in partnership with regions to turn the tide on the acute and entrenched housing crisis, the Conservatives haven’t changed and they haven’t once apologised for the mess they left behind.”

During his inaugural visit as shadow housing secretary, Cleverly toured a housing project in Hillingdon, north London, accompanied by Tory leader Kemi Badenoch. Badenoch appointed Cleverly to his new position on Tuesday, following a reshuffle of her senior team.

Government Accountability and Future Actions

Cleverly, who previously served as the foreign and home secretary, has been on the backbenches since losing the Tory leadership contest to Badenoch last year. He expressed concern over the government’s failure to deliver on its housing promises, particularly affecting young people who are struggling to enter the housing market. He remarked, “We’ve got a government that made big promises when it came to housebuilding and is spectacularly failing to deliver on those promises.”

His criticism was particularly directed at the Prime Minister’s recent comments made during a session with the liaison committee, where he claimed there are sufficient housing options for asylum seekers. Cleverly referenced a question from Labour MP Dame Meg Hillier, chair of the Treasury Committee, regarding the rising costs of temporary accommodations, which have been impacted by the need to house asylum seekers. The Prime Minister responded, “Oh, there is lots of housing and many local authorities that can be used, and we’re identifying where it can be used.” When pressed for specific examples, he indicated that he would follow up with the committee in writing.

The government has expressed a desire to collaborate with local councils to address the housing crisis. In June, Home Office Minister Angela Eagle mentioned exploring the purchase of tower blocks and former student accommodations as alternatives for housing migrants, aiming to reduce reliance on hotels.

In a related discussion, Cleverly was asked about the potential departure from the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). Badenoch recently initiated a review on this issue, and while Cleverly did not confirm his stance, he acknowledged that if the review leads to a change in party policy, he would comply. Badenoch reinforced this sentiment, stating, “I wouldn’t bring someone into the shadow cabinet if they didn’t agree with me.”

As the government navigates the complexities of the housing crisis and asylum seeker accommodations, the dynamics within the political landscape continue to evolve, with both parties vying for public support in this pressing issue.