Labour MP Steve Race has accused Reform UK of pursuing a divisive approach to social housing after the party unveiled plans that would give greater priority to young British-born workers, veterans and married couples with children.
The Exeter MP said the proposals risked disadvantaging single-parent families and same-sex couples with children, arguing that housing should not be allocated according to Reform’s preferred model of family life.
Reform deputy leader Richard Tice confirmed on Monday that under the party’s proposals British-born workers under 35 would be prioritised for social housing, alongside veterans and married couples with children.
Asked on Times Radio whether a married British couple would receive priority over a single British person, Tice replied: “Yes, that is the preference.” He went on to argue that families and marriage should be encouraged and said it would be preferable, “in an ideal world”, for children to have married parents.
Responding to the proposals, Race said:
“Reform would deny social housing to single parents with children — like the family I grew up in. They would deprioritise same-sex couples with children.”
He added:
“Time for people to reject this division.”
Reform has also reiterated proposals to prevent foreign nationals from accessing social housing and remove existing foreign-national tenants, claiming this could make more than 500,000 properties available. Official figures cited in reporting on the proposals show, however, that UK or Irish nationals accounted for 88.5% of main social-housing householders in England in 2024-25.
Homelessness organisations have strongly criticised the proposals. Crisis said the plans risked “stoking division and scapegoating people who are already facing housing insecurity”, arguing that Britain’s fundamental problem is the shortage of social homes rather than the allocation system.
Labour has described Reform’s proposals as “unserious and unworkable”, warning they could increase homelessness and affect long-term UK residents, including people working in essential public services.
Race’s intervention puts the focus on another element of the policy debate: whether marital status should have any bearing on a family’s priority for scarce social housing.
The row comes as housing becomes an increasingly prominent political battleground, with more than 1.3 million households currently on social housing waiting lists and parties facing growing pressure to set out how they would increase the supply of affordable homes.
