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Andy Burnham’s promise to end rough sleeping in England has been torn apart by Sky News’s Beth Rigby. New Prime Minister Mr Burnham says an additional £340m will be allocated over three years to tackle homelessness, in a similar way to the schemes he rolled out as mayor of Greater Manchester.

But Sky News’ political editor Beth Rigby said the Prime Minister’s plans could face problems, as she warned his previous attempts to end homelessness across Greater Manchester were “not successful”. In 2017, Mr Burnham promised to eliminate rough sleeping in Manchester within three years if elected. And now, as Prime Minister, he has said that he would try to get people off the streets “at the earliest opportunity”.

Mr Burnham said on Monday: “On my first day as prime minister, I’m announcing this Government’s commitment to finally end long-term rough sleeping across the UK at the earliest opportunity.

“We’ll get to work immediately, bringing together national and local Government with the investment needed to get it done.”

But speaking earlier outside No.10, Rigby said: “I have to say he tried to do this in Manchester and he was successful up to a point.

“But then he realised that if you went to Manchester and you were homeless you would get housed and then the policy was not successful.”

The £340 million or £113 million a year is expected to come from unused parts of the housing department’s budget.

The additional funds will be put into plans to reduce the number of rough sleepers, which are supposed to pay for 1,200 homes and aid 3,000 people over five years.