Burnham pledges to get thousands of rough sleepers off streets for Christmas – UK politics live

PM promises to mount ‘Covid-style campaign’ to get homeless people off streets in winter Hello and welcome to the UK politics live blog. Andy Burnham has pledged to work to “get everyone in for Christmas” as he continues to build on his policy to end rough sleeping. We see people bedded down in doorways and sat outside stations, carrying their lives in rucksacks and sleeping bags on their backs. And I think most people have the same reaction: this isn’t right. It shouldn’t be happening here. But
Andy Burnham has admitted government funding “may not fully be enough” to achieve his aim of offering a place to stay to every rough sleeper by Christmas, as he made a “rallying call” for communities to get behind his plan.
Speaking on a visit to the north-east of England, the prime minister said:
double quotation mark The government money itself may not fully be enough. So I am saying, putting the call out to community and voluntary organisations – we’re at one here in Newcastle today, doing fantastic work.
But we’re saying to the wider community, voluntary, and faith sector: come on, let’s get behind this. Let’s show what Britain can do when we all pull in the same direction.
double quotation mark We did it in the pandemic, we can do it again, and it’s a rallying call, really, that I’m putting out there today with a lot of government money behind it.
Burnham also defended his previous record on homelessness in Greater Manchester, saying:
double quotation mark We did bring the numbers right down, but because we were the only area providing a high level of support, more people started to travel and it became difficult.
Coverage from 3 sources
- Burnham pledges to get thousands of rough sleepers off streets for Christmas – UK politics liveGuardian - World · Tom Ambrose · Aug 19, 2026, 11:50 AM
- Government rough sleeping funding may not ‘be enough’ to tackle problem, says Burnham – UK politics liveGuardian - World · Tom Ambrose (now) and Mabel Banfield-Nwachi (earlier) · Aug 19, 2026, 2:44 PM
- Government rough sleeping funding may not ‘be enough’ to tackle problem, says Burnham – as it happenedGuardian - World · Tom Ambrose (now) and Mabel Banfield-Nwachi (earlier) · Aug 19, 2026, 2:44 PM
Coverage by lean
- Unknown3
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