JJ Powell

Recently, I sat down with Tony, a gifted artist and painter who once built ships in Gibraltar and later ran his own cafés on Portobello Road. Today he sleeps on London’s streets.

His story is a reminder that homelessness can reach anyone. Behind every doorway sleeper is a life of skill, ambition and worth.

The Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, has pledged to bring everyone in off the streets by Christmas. I shall hold him to that promise. Ending rough sleeping must rise above party lines: no division, no point-scoring, simply a shared duty to act.

Each of us has a part to play.

Thank you to @marksandspencerfood for providing our picnic 🙏🏻