Reform UK’s deputy leader has said couples with children should be married “in an ideal world”.
Richard Tice said it would be “surely preferable” for children to have married parents and argued that having British-born children should be encouraged.
Social housing plans
The deputy leader made the controversial remarks while discussing Reform UK’s new plans for social housing on Monday.
The policy would change how council homes are prioritised, with British-born workers under the age of 35, military veterans and married couples placed at the front of the social housing queue.
It follows a previous pledge by Reform UK to remove foreign nationals from social housing, which the party claims would free up 540,000 homes.
Reaction to the proposals
Asked whether the plans would mean a married British couple would receive priority over a single British person, Mr Tice told Times Radio: “Yes, that is the preference. Well, because actually they’re doing the right thing.
“Families are a good thing. Having British children, British-born children is a good thing. We need to encourage that.
“And it’s a very natural, normal thing, has been over centuries, for people to get together, to get married, have children and contribute to their communities. And everything that we’re doing is focused solely on that.”
Mr Tice said that children in married couples “will do really well at school” and that ought to be “encouraged”.
Criticism from Shelter and Labour
Housing charity Shelter condemned Reform UK's proposals, calling them a "blatant distraction" and warned they will "stoke division".
“These plans will only serve to disrupt the lives of thousands of families, tear communities apart, and put even more people at risk of homelessness,” chief executive Sarah Elliott said.
“Putting nationality and employment ahead of housing need, and moving away from a system designed to prioritise people who are homeless or at urgent risk of homelessness could leave even more families trapped in awful temporary accommodation for years on end.
“Not to mention putting those escaping domestic abuse and violence at serious risk of harm.”
A Labour spokesperson also hit out at the plan, saying: “These unserious and unworkable plans are a desperate bid to shift headlines away from Reform’s sleaze, scandals and infighting.
“Access to social housing is already tightly controlled. Illegal migrants, asylum seekers and migrants on student or work visas are not eligible for social housing. This policy would go after long-term UK residents that have contributed to our country but are not British citizens, including NHS staff.
“It would leave more families at risk of homelessness and drive up use of temporary accommodation at the taxpayer’s expense. It would also mean renegotiations with the EU, resulting in years of wrangling.
“While Reform push gimmicks and division, Labour is doing the hard yards to build more homes and bring back hope across our country.”
