DIVISIVE: Shadow work and pensions secretary Helen WhatelyFOREIGN nationals would lose their right to social housing in Britain if the Tories return to power, the party announced on Friday in new “divisive” plans.
Under the proposals, about 230,000 homes would become available by removing foreign nationals’ entitlement to social housing, with affected tenants required to move out within six months.
Foreign nationals with settled status, refugee status, or specific humanitarian protections currently qualify for social housing, while asylum seekers are generally ineligible.
Any single person in social housing who is not a UK, Irish or EU citizen would lose their home, the Conservatives say, including those with children.
Anyone with EU settled status would be exempt, but couples where neither partner holds British, EU or settled status would lose their entitlement.
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The plans were condemned by the housing charity Shelter.
Chief executive Sarah Elliott said: “These divisive plans would brutally kick people out of their homes, including thousands of families and pensioners who have lived in them for decades.
“And let’s not forget that social tenants pay rent, which goes back to the public purse and into society.
“It is completely senseless to ruin people’s lives, drive up homelessness and put extreme pressure on councils.
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