Prime Minister Andy Burnham has pledged to end long-term rough sleeping across the United Kingdom at the earliest opportunity, stating that the issue is fixable by government action. In his first address as Prime Minister, Burnham declared, "This is something a government can fix if it chooses to. Today, I’m choosing to." He announced immediate plans to convene national and local government bodies with the necessary investment to achieve this goal, framing it as a priority for a nation that values security and inclusivity for all its citizens.
However, official data indicates that rough sleeping in Greater Manchester more than doubled during Burnham's last four years as mayor, rising from 89 in 2021 to 197 in 2025. This period saw the number of rough sleepers reach its second highest point since Burnham's election as mayor in 2017, despite an earlier downward trend by 2021. These figures are part of the annual rough sleeping snapshot conducted annually in November across England.
Further scrutiny comes from Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government data showing approximately 360 rough sleepers in March 2026 across the 10 local authorities comprising Greater Manchester, an increase from 335 in March 2025. Housing charity Shelter reports that Manchester now has the third highest rate of homelessness in the country, with one in 74 residents lacking permanent housing.
Conservative Party officials have criticized Burnham's commitment. Shadow housing secretary Sir James Cleverly questioned the financial details behind the pledge, asking how it would be funded and what existing programs might be reduced. He cited Burnham's past failure to end rough sleeping in Manchester, asserting that the new Prime Minister is making promises without a concrete delivery plan. Conservative Party chairman Kevin Hollinrake also stated that Burnham's record as Mayor of Greater Manchester does not withstand scrutiny, pointing to unfulfilled promises and financial concerns, including spending on a cancelled 'clean air zone'.
Burnham began his tenure by visiting the homeless charity The Passage in London, describing it as the "the best place to start" and highlighting the organization's success in helping individuals. He referenced the success of the pandemic-era 'Everyone In' scheme and Manchester's 'A Bed Every Night' initiative, emphasizing the need for a unified, national effort. "We did it then. We can do it now. Get the basics right. Put a care for people at the heart of everything that we do and just get this country working as it should again," he stated.
Records from Manchester City Council show that while 10,000 affordable homes were promised under Burnham's mayorship, only 791 were delivered. One homeless individual in Manchester, Daniel Parnell, a former bricklayer and tattooist, expressed his disappointment, questioning the allocation of funds towards social housing and stating that the mayor had done nothing for him.