Andy Burnham officially became Prime Minister on Monday, but his first pledge—to end rough sleeping in England—has already drawn sharp criticism from Sky News political editor Beth Rigby. The new Prime Minister announced an additional £340 million over three years to tackle homelessness, modelled on schemes he implemented as mayor of Greater Manchester.
Beth Rigby Questions Burnham's Track Record
Speaking outside No. 10, Rigby said: “I have to say he tried to do this in Manchester and he was successful up to a point. But then he realised that if you went to Manchester and you were homeless you would get housed and then the policy was not successful.” Her remarks underscore concerns that the national plan may repeat the shortcomings of the Greater Manchester initiative.
Details of the £340 Million Plan
The funding, equivalent to £113 million per year, is expected to come from unused portions of the housing department’s budget. It aims to provide 1,200 homes and support 3,000 people over five years. Mr Burnham stated on Monday: “On my first day as prime minister, I’m announcing this Government’s commitment to finally end long-term rough sleeping across the UK at the earliest opportunity. We’ll get to work immediately, bringing together national and local Government with the investment needed to get it done.”
Previous Pledge and Criticism
In 2017, Mr Burnham promised to eliminate rough sleeping in Manchester within three years if elected. The new national pledge mirrors that ambition but faces skepticism given the earlier outcome. Rigby’s assessment suggests that while initial progress was made, the policy ultimately failed to sustain results, as homeless individuals were drawn to Manchester for housing, overwhelming the system.
