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The new Tory Housing Minister openly admitted he made life "uncomfortable" for the homeless as part of a zero-tolerance crackdown.

Kit Malthouse was named today as the eighth Tory Housing Minister in eight years - taking on Theresa May's stalled pledge to "fix the broken market".

But he can expect scrutiny over his previous approach to homelessness when he was deputy leader of Westminster City Council, which he left in 2006.

Under his watch, the council was accused by one London Assembly member of adopting a "ruthless" policy towards homeless people that included "hosing them out of doorways".

Asked in 2008 if he was behind such a "hosing" policy, Mr Malthouse replied: "We certainly instituted a policy of making life - it sounds counterintuitive and cruel - more uncomfortable; that is absolutely right."

(Image: Jack Taylor)

He added during the 2008 hearing: "One of the targets [I was] set was to more than halve the number in Westminster.

"Working with a number of charities and groups across Westminster we analysed the problem, and one of the issues was that in many ways - it sounds counterintuitive - life was too comfortable on the street.

"I know that sounds an awful thing to say but let me finish the argument, OK?

"There were, at the time, plenty, well-funded - we managed to get quite a lot of funding - night shelters and night centres; we managed to extract a cheque for £130,000 for St. Martin’s so it could stay open all night.

"The difficulty was getting rough sleepers into those centres so that they could be interacted with, their needs could be met."

(Image: Huddersfield Examiner)

In 2004, after 27 homeless people were arrested in a joint operation between the council and police, Mr Malthouse suggested the "zero tolerance" policy could be adopted by other areas.

The Independent quoted him as saying: "The idea that everyone begging is down on their luck is a fantasy."

At the time of the 2008 accusations, by then-London Assembly member Jenny Jones, Mr Malthouse strongly defended his record and flatly denied being ruthless.

"The work we did in Westminster was welcomed by almost all the charities," he said.

But a Labour local government spokesman said today: "In her desperation, Theresa May has appointed a new Housing Minister whose callous disregard for the lives of homeless people should immediately rule him out of the job.

"We desperately need a Government prepared to tackle this crisis, but with a divided and shambolic Government this country is at a standstill. The Prime Minister has zero authority left."

Mr Malthouse, who was a Work and Pensions Minister, was named the new Housing Minister today after Dominic Raab was promoted to Brexit Secretary by crisis-hit Theresa May.

The Prime Minister has vowed to completely eliminate rough sleeping by 2027 - despite it more than doubling since the Tories took power.

(Image: AFP)

Mr Malthouse is the third person to hold the Housing Minister job since Grenfell, the fifth since 2015 and the eighth since 2010.

Alexandra Morris, managing director of online letting agent MakeUrMove, said: “It is hugely disappointing that the housing brief is once again the poor relation. We’re staring down the barrel of a very real housing crisis.

"The Government needs to make housing a priority, and this starts with appointing an expert on housing with a firm commitment to the role."

Trussle mortgage broker founder Ishaan Malhi added: "We desperately need not only innovation, but continuity of leadership and a strong hand willing to be brave on policy.

“I only hope the new Housing Minister can stay in the job long enough to have an impact.”