Government urged to back cross-party Bill to repeal Vagrancy Act as coronavirus crisis highlights plight of homeless
Tuesday, 17 March 2020 22:30
Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran will today [Wednesday 18th March]
present a Bill with cross-party support to repeal the Vagrancy
Act, arguing that the Coronavirus pandemic means “now more than
ever, we need a compassionate approach to homelessness.” The
Vagrancy Act has already been repealed in Scotland and Northern
Ireland, and Layla's Bill will repeal the Act across the UK,
extending its repeal to England and Wales. Layla Moran's
Vagrancy (Repeal) Bill is...Request free trial
Liberal Democrat MP will today [Wednesday 18th March]
present a Bill with cross-party support to repeal the Vagrancy
Act, arguing that the Coronavirus pandemic means “now more than
ever, we need a compassionate approach to homelessness.”
The Vagrancy Act has already been repealed in Scotland and Northern
Ireland, and Layla's Bill will repeal the Act across the UK,
extending its repeal to England and Wales.
Layla Moran's Vagrancy (Repeal) Bill is co-sponsored by:
• Conservative MP
• Green MP
• Labour MP
• Plaid MP
• Liberal Democrat MP
• Liberal Democrat MP
The Liberal Democrats have already called for safe spaces to be
provided for the homeless and other vulnerable people to
self-isolate, including the use of empty offices.
Ahead of the presentation of her Bill, Liberal Democrat MP
said:
“Now more than ever, we need a compassionate approach to
homelessness. Rough sleepers urgently need accommodation, health
checks and support in the face of coronavirus.
"I am concerned that homeless people will be disproportionately
affected by the detention measures in the new emergency
legislation.
“A new compassionate approach must include scrapping the Vagrancy
Act. It is a cruel, Dickensian law that criminalises people just
for sleeping rough.
“Being homeless should not be a crime. We should be caring for
people who end up on the streets, not locking them up.
“The Government cannot arrest its way out of the homelessness
crisis. I hope Ministers will recognise that and support my Bill to
scrap the Vagrancy Act.”
ENDS.
Notes to editors:
More on the Bill can be found here.
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