Rishi Sunak is facing a revolt from the Conservative Party over plans to criminalize homelessness in a major crime bill this year.
The prime minister risks a backbencher when MPs vote on the Criminal Justice Bill, which will give police powers to punish or remove “nuisance” rough sleepers.
Dozens of MPs from the right and left of the Conservative Party are said to have warned the Conservative Party that they would vote against the measures in the bill.
Senior government sources told Times They had “paused” the legislation while ministers negotiated with the expected 40-plus rebels.
“The government is panicking about the size of the rebellion because they know they will lose if it comes to a vote,” one of them said.
The rebel added: “But we are not backing down or bowing down. The ball is in the government’s court. “They need to listen, otherwise they will be helpless.”
A minister on Monday refused to say whether he would support plans to criminalize rough sleeping.
Asked Times Radio Business Minister Kevin Hollinrake said whether he would support the bill in its current form: “These are not within my oversight. I will be interested to see how the legislation works and what the Prime Minister has planned.”
Asked whether it was right to arrest someone for so-called rough sleeping, Mr Hollinrake said: “The most important thing is that we are providing the resources to get people off the streets and there should be places for people to go.
“I don’t think it should be optional for people, if there are places for people to go off the streets then those people should be kept off the streets, they shouldn’t be sleeping on the ground. It’s not fair to other people in our towns and city centres.”
Current plans would give police and local authority workers new powers to order beggars on their way, while encouraging them to use accommodation services and mental health support.
A new crime will be created for the criminal gangs that organize begging networks, and in a statement made by the government, it was stated that action would be taken by pointing out people who “cause disturbance on the streets”, especially “those who block the doors of shops and beg at cash points”.
Homelessness charities have warned that government measures replacing the Vagrancy Act, which criminalises all forms of rough sleeping, will instead lead to the “further criminalization” of homeless people.
Polly Neate, chief executive of charity Shelter, said: “Parliament should not pass this law. Instead of punishing people for being homeless, politicians should try to prevent them from going out on the streets.
“Everyone at risk of rough sleeping should have the right to emergency appropriate housing, and there needs to be investment in truly affordable social homes to end homelessness for good – we need 90,000 a year.”
Fiona Colley, Homeless Link’s director of social change, said she was “disappointed” with the plan.
“Homelessness is not a crime,” he said. “When the government committed to repealing the Vagrancy Act, it did so with the understanding that people sleeping on our streets should be supported, not criminalised.
“We are therefore extremely disappointed to see that this new plan will result in the further criminalization of vulnerable people, rather than providing constructive solutions to help people fully off the streets.”
The Liberal Democrats have called on the government to back down on plans to criminalize homelessness. Layla Moran MP, who is running a cross-party campaign to repeal the Vagrancy Act, said: “The heartless proposals in the Criminal Justice Bill risk bringing the Vacancy Act back through the back door.
“The government must listen to its own background and take a compassionate approach to tackling homelessness, rather than stigmatizing and criminalizing rough sleepers.
“Sleeping rough is not a lifestyle choice. Ministers should focus on addressing the root causes of this crisis, rather than scapegoating its victims.”
A government spokesman said: “We are determined to end rough sleeping and prevent people from going out in the first place. That’s why last year we published our strategy to end rough sleeping altogether, backed by an unprecedented £2 billion commitment.
“No one should be blamed for having nowhere to live, so we have decided to repeal the old Vagrancy Act passed in 1824.
“These provisions provide a civil means of engaging with rough sleepers to help them accept offers of support and only make it an offense to fail to comply with a lawfully made direction, notice or order.”