UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman Faces Backlash Over Controversial Rough Sleeping Comments; Colleague Distances Herself

Suella Braverman's proposal to restrict tent use viewed as criminalising homelessness, as fellow politicians denounce the comments and assert that homelessness is not a "lifestyle choice."

UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman has spurred contention with statements suggesting that rough sleeping and tent living in city streets is a 'lifestyle choice.'
Braverman has proposed a controversial policy to restrict the usage of tents by homeless individuals in an effort to crack down on undesirable behavior, such as drug use and aggressive begging.
Many, including politicians and non-profit organization Shelter, have criticized these remarks, arguing that homelessness is not a 'lifestyle choice' but a result of unmet socio-economic needs and failed government policies.
Energy Secretary Claire Coutinho distanced herself from Braverman's remarks, emphasizing that homelessness is a complex issue often intertwined with addiction.
Braverman's proposal may also include penalties for charities distributing camping equipment, which has been described as 'criminalising' efforts to support the homeless.