Kemi Badenoch’s proposal to restrict social housing access for foreign nationals has prompted strong criticism from housing experts, Labour and Independent readers. Critics argue that the plan, which they say resembles Reform UK policy, could be legally vulnerable and distracts from the underlying shortage of affordable homes.

The Conservatives say the measures could free up 230,000 homes for British families. They would evict certain non-UK, Irish or EU single tenants within six months and deny new tenancies to people without settled status, but government figures reportedly show that nine in ten social lets already go to UK nationals. Readers largely blamed Conservative governments’ record on Right to Buy, reduced council-house building and immigration policy, arguing that more social homes should be built instead.