‘Homes WILL be there for our hero veterans’, vows Keir Starmer as he slams ‘injustice in plain sight’
BRITISH war heroes living on the streets will be guaranteed a home, Sir Keir Starmer has pledged.
The PM promised to "repay" homeless veterans, declaring "homes will be there for heroes".
In his keynote speech at Labour conference in Liverpool, the PM blasted the scourge of homelessness among former servicemen and women.
He said it was an "injustice hiding in plain sight on our streets".
The PM went on: “In every town and city in this country, people who were prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice for our nation, who put their lives on the line to protect us all, but who will not have a safe place to sleep tonight.
“We cannot stand by and let this happen anymore. And so today, I can announce that this Government will respect that service.
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“We will repay those who served us. And house all veterans in housing need.
“Homes will be there for heroes.”
Homelessness among military veterans in England rose by 14 per cent in 2022- 2023.
Figures from the Department of Housing showed 2,110 households with someone who served in the armed forces were assessed as homeless - up from 1,850 the previous year.
The Sun launched a campaign to reduce veterans’ homelessness to as close to zero as possible back in 2019.
The No Homeless Veterans campaign called on local authorities, charities and advice agencies to identify former servicemen and women and signpost them to the best possible support.
Speech that sets the tone for Labour's first chapter
By Ryan Sabey, Deputy Political Editor
Sir Keir Starmer has endured a torrid few weeks in the job he has craved.
This was a reset moment that - for an hour or so at least - he could put the troubles of freebiegate and Sue Gray's salary behind him.
It was a greatest hits run out that will please many of those who voted for him for the first time.
Stronger borders as a priority and fixing the foundations of the economy are essential for the long-term benefit of the country.
But there may be some anger among Labour ranks when he spoke of plugging the £22 billion black hole.
It won't just fall on the shoulders of the better off in society as this is a "shared struggle", he said.
He even said - to coin a phrase - that "we are all in it together".
The decision to axe winter fuel allowance for millions of pensioners is just one decision he didn;t shy away from.
That brought about a few groans in the hall as ex-Tory Chancellor George Osborne echoed this phrase during the austerity years.
A crackdown on benefits and the welfare bill will be unveiled at the Budget and it won't be pretty.
This speech was setting the tone for the first phase of this Labour government.
Short-term pain for long-term gain.
Folks, it's time to buckle up