STORY
The Conservative Party has proposed making most foreign nationals ineligible for social housing in England, including ending some existing tenancies. The party says the policy could make around 228,000 homes available to British families and would require affected tenants to leave within six months.
Under the proposal, UK and Irish citizens and people with EU settled status would remain eligible. Foreign nationals with refugee status or other humanitarian protections who currently qualify could lose access under the Conservative plan, while asylum seekers are already generally ineligible for social housing except in limited circumstances.
Labour described the policy as unworkable and said it would not address the underlying shortage of homes. Shelter warned that it could increase homelessness and place additional pressure on councils, while the Royal College of Nursing raised concerns about the effect on overseas staff working in public services. Conservative shadow work and pensions secretary Helen Whately said the party wanted social housing to be prioritised for British families.