Cambridge man who lived in tent slams Suella Braverman's tweet

Matt was living in a tent by the River Cam or 18 months

A homeless man slammed comments made by the Home Secretary Suella Braverman who said living in a tent was a "lifestyle choice".

Matt who had been living under tarpaulin, by the River Cam in Cambridge, said it was all he had.

The cabinet minister said Britain "cannot allow our streets to be taken over by rows of tents" and there are "options for people who don't want to be sleeping rough".

She is pushing for restrictions.

Matt who had been sleeping outside for 18-months, before he recently secured temporary accommodation, said: "How dare she say it's a lifestyle choice.

"Do you honestly really think I want to live under a willow tree in Cambridge."

He added: "Have a night in the tent when you've got 60-mile hour winds zipping through it and that's all you've got."

'There are options'

Mrs Braverman tweeted the plans and said genuinely homeless people would always be supported.

"Unless we step in now to stop this, British cities will go the way of places in the US like San Francisco and Los Angeles, where weak policies have led to an explosion of crime, drug taking, and squalor," she added.

"Nobody in Britain should be living in a tent on our streets. There are options for people who don't want to be sleeping rough, and the government is working with local authorities to strengthen wraparound support including treatment for those with drug and alcohol addiction."

Home secretary's comments 'bonkers'

Lewis Herbert, manager at Allia Future Homes, which provides affordable supported living, said her comments were "pure poison."

"The government promised in 2022 that they would end all rough sleeping in England next year and it's a woeful record because they're not going to achieve it," he said.

Mark Howell, Conservative councillor for South Cambridgeshire District Council, called Mrs Braverman's comments "bonkers" and added: "We should be judged by the way we treat people who need help and support."

Under the home secretary's plans, new penalties would be introduced for homeless people who rejected offers of help.

A Cambridge City Council spokesperson said: "The offer of accommodation is there for people who are rough sleeping in Cambridge.

"Anyone at risk of losing their home should get in touch with its Housing Advice Service or through our website."