Tories say PM is fuelling frustration over asylum seeker housing

Newly-appointed shadow housing secretary Sir James Cleverly has accused Sir Keir Starmer of fuelling public frustration over the housing of asylum seekers.

Sir James told BBC Radio 4 the prime minister had “amplified” the situation by saying on Monday there was “lots of housing available” for the rising numbers of homeless people and asylum seekers.

“It’s that kind of disconnect that I think is driving real frustration and that’s what I want to address,” the Conservative MP told the Today programme.

Labour, which has pledged to deliver 1.5 million homes, said the country was still “living with the consequences” of the Tories’ “disastrous decision to abolish mandatory housing targets”.

A Labour spokesperson added: “While Labour is working in…