Worst Tory idea ever, bar none

Last month, we heard how Tory-run Windsor council wanted to sweep every rough sleeper off its streets in time for the royal wedding.

Now we hear that Tory-run Bournemouth council have put bars on public benches to stop homeless people sleeping on them.

It’s as though they believe these poor sods are choosing this degrading, dangerous life. And by shuffling them down the road the problem will go away.

Unless the root causes are tackled it won’t. Their own Government’s figures show there were 4,751 people sleeping rough last autumn, a 15% rise on the previous year and more than double what it was five years ago.

Don’t they see the connection with austerity policies and changes to benefits, the rise in low-paid, insecure jobs and out-of-control Rachman landlords? Don’t they get that some people can hit rock bottom due to life-changing circumstances out of their control? Or don’t they care?

The same people like to brag how this country has never been better off due to turfing out the last Labour government.

It doesn’t look like it does it?