Angela Rayner has axed Conservative-era plans to prioritise British citizens over migrants in social housing applications.
The previous Tory Government had proposed reforms which would have barred recent arrivals from applying for council homes - which Labour's new Housing Secretary has now formally shelved.
Michael Gove's proposals had included a "UK connection test", which would have meant only people who had lived in the country for 10 years or more were eligible to join the 1.3million-household-long queue for council properties.
Said test would have applied to people already in the queue - potentially turfing out prospective foreign tenants.
Michael Gove's proposals had included a "UK connection test"
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When queried by Shadow Housing Secretary Kemi Badenoch, housing minister Matthew Pennycook - who serves in Rayner's department - confirmed the proposals had been canned.
He replied: "The Government does not intend to enact the policy proposals set out in the consultation."
Rayner immediately came under fire for the move, not least by Reform's Lee Anderson, who said it prioritised people "who have just arrived in our country".
Anderson said: "If you were born in this country, worked hard, paid your taxes and obeyed our laws, then not only will Labour steal your winter fuel payment - but they will also put your family at the bottom of the housing list in favour of people who have just arrived in our country. Why?"
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Lee Anderson said it prioritised people "who have just arrived in our country"
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A written question from Kemi Badenoch prompted Labour to admit to shelving the plans
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And former Conservative minister Dame Andrea Jenkyns joined in the criticism, saying: "This is so wrong, I had a lot of former constituents waiting for years to get a house."
Amid the axing of Tory plans, the Labour Government is set to fast-track some 90,000 asylum applications from illegal migrants who had been facing deportation to Rwanda.
Two-thirds of migrants are expected to be granted the right to remain, which would enable them to qualify to apply for social housing.
Though, as a Housing Ministry spokesman highlighted, most councils already use "local connection tests" on their waiting lists.
Rayner immediately came under fire for the move
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The spokesman said: "The vast majority of councils have already adopted local connection tests, and 90 per cent of social homes go to UK nationals.
"Those who do not have a right to stay in the UK are already not eligible for social housing."
But Dr Mike Jones, executive director of Migration Watch UK, slated the Government's move, saying: "Labour isn't putting the 'national interest' first - they're putting non-citizens ahead of British people."
While a Conservative spokesman said: "It just goes to show that Labour will always put cosying up to the EU ahead of protecting British values like common decency and fairness."
