Mr McCartney repeatedly Retweeted communications from Robert Jenrick, MP for Newark, which claim, among other things, that the Government is spending more than £150million to provide thousands of new homes for rough sleepers.
The information in the Tweets is part of the Next Steps Accommodation Programme, a new initiative by the Government that aims to provide more housing for rough sleepers – and prevent those given short-term accommodation due to COVID-19 from returning to the streets.
The data Mr McCartney Retweeted is accurate. According to the programme’s guidance document, £161million will be invested for 2020/21 to deliver 3,300 “units of longer-term, move- on accommodation”, intended to provide rough sleepers with a reliable place to call home until they’re able to move on.
One of the Tweets Mr McCartney Retweeted included another figure: 6,000 new homes:
According to the Government’s press release, £433million will be spent by the end of the current Parliament, in order to provide 6,000 new homes.
The Next Steps Accommodation Programme guidance document includes references to this longer-term spending target of £433million, but we couldn’t find any specific reference to the claim of 6,000 homes outside of the press release.
It’s also unclear why this information is being shared as if the initiative is brand new. In fact, the £161million was announced by the Secretary of State on 24 May.
Nonetheless, our verdict for these Tweets is true, as the information is verifiable and doesn’t appear to be presented in a misleading fashion.
Fact Check: Karl McCartney 
One thought on “29 October, 8:52am”