Burnham’s ‘nonsense’ rough sleeper pledge

By the Editorial Team · Wednesday, October 28, 2026

The UK government has pledged £874 million to end rough sleeping by Christmas, building on past efforts in Greater Manchester where rough sleeping initially declined but has recently risen again. Critics warn the plan may be unrealistic due to ongoing housing shortages, increasing demand from migration, and shortcomings in previous policies, highlighting the need for coordinated national action and expanded social housing.

The UK government’s latest pledge to end rough sleeping by Christmas has drawn criticism from local officials and opposition figures who question the feasibility of the plan based on past experiences in Greater Manchester.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced an £874 million initiative aimed at tackling homelessness across England, doubling previous funding efforts. The announcement came as official figures showed 4,793 people were sleeping rough on a single night in England last autumn.

Burnham, who formerly served as Mayor of Greater Manchester, had made a similar promise in 2018 to eradicate rough sleeping in the city. At that time, Greater Manchester had 268 rough sleepers, a figure that fell to 90 by 2021 following the introduction of a “bed every night” scheme. The programme provided emergency accommodation and outreach services designed to help rough sleepers into permanent housing. However, recent statistics indicate an increase to 197 rough sleepers in the region, alongside almost 9,600 people living in emergency accommodation or sofa-surfing.

Reform UK Manchester city councillor Sian Astley, who ran unsuccessfully to replace Burnham as mayor, criticised the current government’s plans as unrealistic. Astley argued that Burnham’s previous policies failed to address Manchester’s homelessness crisis and pointed to ongoing pressures including migration and the city’s status as a “sanctuary city.” She expressed concern that resources are increasingly stretched as people arrive seeking accommodation, citing examples of individuals traveling from other parts of the UK and abroad in search of shelter. Astley highlighted that Manchester faces a significant housing shortfall, with some 20,000 people on the housing waiting list and around 10,000 registered as homeless, half of whom are children.

Katie Lam, the Labour Party’s Shadow Housing Secretary, also criticised Burnham for not ending rough sleeping during his mayoral tenure, describing rough sleeping levels as having reached “record highs under Labour.”

Burnham defended his record, acknowledging the challenges posed by Greater Manchester’s high level of support for rough sleepers. He suggested that the increase in numbers was partly due to people relocating to the area because it provided emergency accommodation unavailable elsewhere. Burnham stressed the need for a coordinated national approach and said lessons from Greater Manchester’s experience informed the new funding pledge.

On Monday, Burnham and Chancellor John Healey visited St Martin-in-the-Fields Charity in central London, a facility offering assistance to homeless people. Homelessness organisations continue to point to the lack of social housing as a key factor limiting progress in reducing rough sleeping.

Jerelle Okoro, a former professional basketball player who volunteers in Manchester, acknowledged the complexity of the issue and emphasised the importance of collective community effort. “The shift will happen when the UK realises that a lot of issues will only change when we as the people stand and choose to make a difference ourselves,” he said.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.