Prime Minister Andy Burnham has been told by homeless people in Manchester to 'open his eyes' to rough sleeping, with some saying he let them down as mayor. The comments come after Burnham pledged to end rough sleeping in England with an additional £340m over three years, along with a £2 cap on bus fares and a 5% VAT cut on electricity bills worth about £45 a year on average.
Homeless mother-of-three speaks out
In Piccadilly Gardens, homeless mother-of-three Michelle, 34, said Burnham needs to 'open his eyes' to the reality of homelessness in his own city before thinking he can solve it for the rest of the UK. She has been legally homeless for almost four years and living rough since December, though she previously worked in sales and cafes.
Michelle said she 'feels more comfortable on the streets' than in a hostel, claiming she has been attacked in hostels before. When asked what Burnham could do to help, she selflessly said: 'There's other people who are more vulnerable.' She described life on the streets as 'disgusting' due to a lack of toilets and admitted she needs help managing her money.
Showing her doorway bed with cardboard and an NHS blanket, she said of Burnham: 'All he can do is speak to people and hear them - nobody else hears people, especially invisible people like me.'
Another rough sleeper doubts promises
Joseph McDowell, 63, originally from Glasgow, has been living on the streets for six months after his ex-wife died and he could not keep the flat. He said he never voted for Burnham and doubts he can do all he boasts.
'When he was mayor, he said he would help the homeless get into hotels - but he never built hotels for the homeless!' Joe said Burnham had let the homeless down in Manchester, and when asked if he would let the UK's homeless down, he replied: 'Oh definitely, yeah.' He called for cost of living payments for the poor and said there were not enough homeless hostels.
Public reactions and concerns
An 84-year-old shopper from Miles Platting said it is 'too early to know' whether Burnham will be an inspiration or a catastrophe, but noted: 'They all say the same thing and it doesn't come.' She welcomed the VAT reduction on electricity bills as 'a start.'
Teacher Mark Thomson, 59, said he liked Burnham as mayor but faces 'huge challenges' as PM. He worried Burnham could become a 'people pleaser' and said the cost of living crisis should be his priority. On ending homelessness, he said it was 'easier said than done' but 'morally and ethically the right thing.'
Hospitality worker Chris Willis, 44, said the economy needs a reset and small businesses should be at the heart of it. He warned Burnham could end up 'corrupted by the job' like many politicians, adding: 'I wish him good luck. He will need it.'
Burnham's record on homelessness
As mayor, Burnham pledged to end rough sleeping in 2017. The number of rough sleepers in Manchester initially dropped from 268 a night to 90, but new figures suggest it has more than doubled to 197. The government said it would put an extra £340m into its homelessness strategy, sourced from unused parts of the housing department's budget.
