All children deserve a home

04 Dec 2020

On Wednesday this week I spoke in a debate about an important – but often hidden – aspect of homelessness, temporary accommodation. When people talk about homelessness, they are often mean rough sleeping. In fact, rough sleepers only make up a small part of the homeless population in this country.…

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This winter, rough sleepers need more help

16 Nov 2020

For many rough sleepers this winter could be a struggle for survival. With homeless shelters closed because of the pandemic, colder weather and a deadly virus circulating, this winter looks like it will be particularly dangerous for people living on the streets. Sadly, the government help for rough sleepers is…

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Why has the government turned its back on rough sleepers?

12 Nov 2020

In the first lockdown, rough sleepers were helped off the streets into emergency accommodation. There is no doubt that this decisive move saved lives. At the time, ministers made impressive announcements that the government would “end rough sleeping for good”. Sadly, the gains from the spring seem to have been…

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The government must urgently re-start ‘Everyone In’ to keep people safe this winter

03 Nov 2020

The ‘Everyone In’ initiative in March was an incredible achievement by councils and charities, which saved hundreds of lives. A repeat of this success will require strong leadership and effective co-ordination from central Government. As we head into a second lockdown, the Government must urgently re-start ‘Everyone In’ to protect…

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Three years after Grenfell, government inaction still risking thousands of lives

09 Oct 2020

Many people across the country are desperate for help to remove the unsafe cladding on their homes. They have contacted me as Shadow Housing Secretary to help draw attention to this problem. They had no say in it being put there but are being made to suffer the consequences. The…

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Zero carbon homes are more important than ever

05 Oct 2020

Today Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick claimed that his is committed to climate-friendly, zero carbon homes, even though his own target falls far short of this important standard. Their new ‘Future Homes Standard’ aims to cut current emissions by 75-80% by 2025 – hardly the ambition or urgency needed to respond…

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Government incompetence causing an evictions crisis

18 Sep 2020

For thousands of people worried about paying the rent this month, this must feel like Groundhog Day. On Monday, the ban on evictions will expire, allowing landlords to take their tenants to court and evict them. The deadline on 20 September follows an extension of the ban in June and…

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Revealed: Sunak’s secret £1bn giveaway to second home owners and landlords

10 Jul 2020

As Labour’ Shadow Housing Secretary, I have written a letter to my opposite number Robert Jenrick, calling on the government to reverse a £1.3bn bung to second home owners and landlords snuck out by the Chancellor this week.  Following the Chancellor’s economic statement on Wednesday, the Treasury slipped out an…

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The government must prevent a spike in evictions this autumn

15 Jun 2020

The coronavirus crisis will not affect us all equally. For people on precarious incomes who rent their homes, there is a real risk that they will fall into arrears and be evicted.   The government has banned evictions until the autumn, but the economy will take much longer to return…

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Urging the government to take action – my letter to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government

08 Jun 2020

People should not fear losing their homes or going back to sleeping rough. Today, as Labour’s Housing spokesperson, I wrote to the Minister for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Robert Jenrick MP, urging him to end rough sleeping, address the problems for people who rent their homes, and prevent a…

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A once-in-a-generation chance to end rough sleeping

22 May 2020

While we all know about the health emergency and the economic problems caused by COVID-19, there is also an emergency in housing. If the government does not respond to this crisis in the right way, many more people will be forced from their homes and end up sleeping on the…

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Urgent action to protect renters in the COVID crisis

14 May 2020

Unless the government acts fast, we could see an unprecedented spike in evictions and homelessness, as the economic repercussions of the coronavirus crisis are already hitting people’s ability to pay their rent. As Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, I’ve put forward a five-point plan the government needs to…

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COVID-19 and housing – my letter to the government

16 Apr 2020

In this time of national lockdown, decent homes are more important than ever. And the COVID-19 crisis has exacerbated many inequalities, forcing some people to the brink of homelessness In my new role as shadow Secretary of State for Housing and Homelessness, I have put forward a number of pressing…

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My new role as Shadow Secretary of State for Housing

06 Apr 2020

I am honoured to have been asked to serve the country as Shadow Secretary of State for Housing and I look forward to campaigning for strong housing policies that will improve lives across the country. In this national crisis and the effort to limit the spread of Covid-19, our homes…

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COVID-19, housing and council funding: My letter to the government

03 Apr 2020

From ongoing conversations with Bristol City Council and hundreds of constituents, I have compiled a list of concerns about how the COVID-19 crisis will affect local government and housing in Bristol. I have included them in the letter below to the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, to push…

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COVID-19: housing rights – new information as of 27th March 2020

27 Mar 2020

The government has updated its guidance for people who rent or own their home and are struggling as a result of the Covid-19 crisis and the government policies and consequences for businesses and jobs. You can read the guidance in full here. Below is a summary of the key points:…

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Join me in supporting a day centre for Bristol’s homeless people

04 Jun 2019

Many of you have written to me about homelessness, so I thought I would share this excellent initiative with you. Bristol has several shelters where homeless people can find a bed for the night, but there is nowhere for them to go during the day. I discussed this problem in…

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