Reform UK has announced a proposal to prioritize British-born workers for council housing if the party wins the next election. The plan involves overhauling social housing allocation to give precedence to citizens who are employed.
The party's proposals include favoring married couples under 35 with children who are working, as well as military veterans. Reform UK has previously stated its intention to evict foreign-born nationals from social housing, estimating this could free up hundreds of thousands of homes. The party claims that 540,000 social homes are currently occupied by foreign nationals and that 15 percent of the 1.3 million people on waiting lists are foreign-born.
Reform UK's deputy leader, Richard Tice, is expected to detail plans to construct 50,000 affordable social homes annually. Tice stated that the majority of individuals on the social housing waiting list are not employed and that less than half of current social housing households are in work. He emphasized a need to prioritize "young British workers" who struggle to afford independent housing.
Opposition parties have criticized the proposals. A Labour Party spokesperson called the plans "unworkable," asserting that eligibility for social housing is already restricted, excluding illegal migrants, asylum seekers, and those on student or work visas. Labour also suggested the policy could affect long-term UK residents who are not British citizens, including essential workers like NHS staff, and potentially increase homelessness and temporary accommodation costs. The party also indicated such a policy might necessitate renegotiations with the European Union.
Sir James Cleverly, the shadow housing secretary, accused Reform UK of presenting unfunded plans, suggesting their calculations were flawed. He added that the Conservative Party had already outlined measures to ensure British nationals receive priority for social housing.