Keir Starmer has vowed to ensure that all veterans have a “roof over their head” by removing barriers to social housing.

The pledge came during the Prime Minister’s keynote speech at the Labour Party conference on Tuesday where he vowed that veterans, along with young care leavers and victims of domestic abuse, would be exempt from local connection tests, which most councils use to decide who can qualify for social housing.

Currently, veterans are exempt for five years post-discharge from the armed forces.

Sir Keir described veterans homelessness as “injustice hiding in plain sight”. Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showing that only 0.3 percent of those classed as veterans under the most recent census classed themselves as homeless.

He said: “In every town and city in this country. People who were prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice for our nation, who put their lives on the line to protect us all, but who will not have a safe place to sleep tonight.

Labour intend to remove barriers to social housing for veterans (Image: Getty)

“We cannot stand by and let this happen anymore.” We will repay those who served us and house all veterans in housing need. Homes will be there for heroes.”

A Labour spokesperson confirmed to Express.co.uk that the government will today write to councils to remind them they should prioritise veterans. Regulations will be brought forward in due course.

But the announcement was mocked by former minister for Veterans’ Affairs Johnny Mercer who said on X: “I suppose imitation is the greatest form of flattery…

“By Christmas 2023, not a single veteran was sleeping rough due to a lack of provision, because of the amazing joint work of everyone in the Op Fortitude team.”

Op Fortitude, established by Mr Mercer in 2023, was an £8.5 million fund designed to create a wraparound support service to support 1,300 veterans across more than 900 housing units.

A Labour spokesperson told Express.co.uk: “This policy is very different to Op Fortitude. Op Fortitude is about providing space to get veterans off the street whereas today’s announcement is helping them access social housing and getting proper homes.”

The issue of veterans’ homelessness has long been a talking point amongst politicians but has often been a bone of contention amongst the veterans community who feel that the issue is often exaggerated as a result of negative stereotypes and attempts by politicians to harness the goodwill associated with the community for their own ends.

A “veteran” is defined as anybody who has served at least one day in His Majesty’s Armed Forces. This definition means people who did not complete basic training many years ago will be included within figures on “veteran homelessness”.

According to figures by the Department of Housing, 2,110 veterans were listed as homeless in 2023, out of 2.03 million people who classed themselves as a veteran in the 2021 census.

The frustration amongst the veteran community is the exaggeration of the link between service and homelessness when the two are often unrelated.

One veteran speaking to the Express.co.uk said: “There is a homeless problem in this country that is not unique to veterans.

Former Veterans’ minister Johnny Mercer established Op Fortitude last year to help homeless veterans (Image: Getty)

“There is so much support when you’re leaving and after you have left the army. Of all the issues affecting veterans, I think homelessness is one of the ones that gets dealt with best already.”

Garrath Williams, who served as a Company Commander in Afghanistan and is the founder of the Veterans community Veterans Can, echoed this. Earlier this year, he told Express.co.uk that the Office for Veterans’ Affairs should prioritise challenging negative stereotypes that can be damaging to veterans as they transition into the civilian world.

He said: “Some veterans are homeless, some are alcoholics, some have mental health issues.

“It is important to help these where they occur, but it is important to understand whether these people have these issues because they served or whether they have them and they also served.”

“I firmly believe that more people are made by their service than are broken by it.”

Op Fortitude provides wrap-around care to veterans in danger of sleeping rough and has been continued by the new Labour administration.