In a sleeping bag under Commons

EMANUEL Madaran is one of the 306 people sleeping rough in Westminster, and is lying on his rucksack in a blue sleeping bag next to the underground entrance to the House of Commons.

“I see them coming and going,” the Romanian builder, 38, said, as I joined him on the floor and shared his view of the smart shoes and briefcases. “Some are good people, some are bad.”

Some MPS averted their gaze, or were lost in their mobile phones. Dan Carden, Shadow Minister for International Development, stopped to chat.

Like other homeless people from EU countries, Emanuel now faces deportation after Brexit.

At the other end of the underpass, I found Paul Rainey, 55, from Liverpool, on a blanket with his dog Millie, who has recently had two tumours removed.

Paul used to be a roofer but he fell off a roof and injured his back “and that was the start of it”.

Tim, 37, a plumber, said his relationship broke down in December. “I was promised emergency accommodation six weeks ago,” he said.

Paul – who doesn’t want to give his name – is just ending his first week as a Big Issue vendor.

“I’m in at a nightshelter now, but

I’m still homeless.” He said. “I lost my business, my relationship broke up. It’s a long story.”

Somewhere above these lives in limbo, the powerful are treading the corridors. In the meantime, there are almost as many people sleeping rough in Westminster as there are Conservative MPS.

HARD TIMES Sean and Mandy on the streets is the official number of people sleeping rough on the streets – an increase of 164.5% since 2010 when it was 1,768

FALL GUY Ros with former roofer Paul and his dog Millie

LET DOWN Tim in subway