Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran has urged the Government in the
Commons today to include the repeal of the Vagrancy Act, which
criminalises rough sleeping, in next month’s Queen’s Speech.
Speaking in a debate in Westminster Hall on repealing and
replacing the Act, Layla Moran said that “the Secretary of State
couldn’t commit to a timetable in a letter to me last week” and
asked the Minister to “guarantee that repealing the Vagrancy Act
will be in the Queen’s Speech next month”.
The Minister for Rough Sleeping and Housing made no such
commitment at the end of the debate.
Moran started the campaign to scrap the Vagrancy Act when she was
first elected in 2017, and introduced a cross-party Bill for the
second time last year that would repeal it in days if the
Government gave its support.
Calling the law, still used in England and Wales by police forces
against rough sleepers, “a disgrace”, Layla said “we seem to be
stuck at the final hurdle” and that “we shouldn’t wait one more
day”.
Speaking after the debate, said:
"Today it is still the law for rough sleepers to be arrested and
prosecuted for the crime of not being able to afford a roof over
their head. It is a moral outrage that a Victorian-era law
continues to punish those who desperately need help.
“The clock is ticking for this Government. We urgently need a
more compassionate approach to ending homelessness in this
country. It’s a disgrace that in 2021 we’re still having this
debate. Colleagues from across the Commons have sponsored my bill
which would end the demonising punishment given to homeless
people. We have cross-party support and charities such as Crisis
demanding action – yet in return we face a heartless Government
dragging its heels.
“So why the delay? Why haven’t we seen the Government’s review
into the Vagrancy Act yet? If agrees homeless people should no longer be
criminalised, then he should announce the long overdue repealing
of the cruel, Dickensian Vagrancy Act in next month’s Queen's
Speech."
