In his first speech as prime minister, Andy Burnham promised to end rough sleeping in England, allocating an additional £340m over three years to get people off the streets.
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Key facts
- Andy Burnham pledged to end rough sleeping in England as his first pledge as prime minister.
- An additional £340m has been allocated over three years.
- Burnham said he would try to get people off the streets 'at the earliest opportunity'.
- He spoke in front of Downing Street immediately after becoming prime minister.
- He aims to replicate homelessness schemes rolled out in Greater Manchester.
Andy Burnham has promised to end rough sleeping in England in his first pledge as prime minister, according to the Guardian. Speaking in front of Downing Street immediately after taking office, Burnham said he would try to get people off the streets “at the earliest opportunity”.
The pledge is backed by an additional £340m allocated over three years, the Guardian reported. The funding is intended to support efforts to move people out of rough sleeping and into housing.
Burnham said he was seeking to replicate the homelessness schemes he rolled out during his time in Greater Manchester. The approach forms the basis of his early priorities as prime minister.
By making the commitment his first pledge, Burnham signalled that tackling homelessness will be a central theme of his early time in office. The Guardian noted the announcement came immediately after he became prime minister.
Further details on how the £340m will be distributed and the timeline for meeting the pledge were not set out in the initial reporting.
Why it matters
Rough sleeping is one of the most visible forms of poverty in England, and a prime minister making it their first pledge sets a clear early priority. The scale of the funding and whether the Greater Manchester model can be applied nationally will shape whether the promise can be delivered.
Frequently asked questions
How much money has Burnham allocated to end rough sleeping?
According to the Guardian, an additional £340m has been allocated over three years.
What did Burnham say in his first speech as prime minister?
He pledged to end rough sleeping in England and said he would try to get people off the streets 'at the earliest opportunity', speaking in front of Downing Street.
What is Burnham's plan based on?
He said he is seeking to replicate the homelessness schemes he rolled out in Greater Manchester.
Timeline
- Burnham pledges to end rough sleeping in England in first speech as prime minister
The Guardian World: Additional £340m over three years allocated to get people off the streets ‘at the earliest opportunity’ UK politics live – latest updates Andy Burnham has promised to end rough sleeping in England in his first pledge as prime minister, allocating an additional £340m over three ye