British military veterans have expressed concern that Afghans have been prioritised for housing at the expense of former service personnel. The Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) saw thousands of Afghans, who worked alongside British forces over two decades of campaigns in the country, relocated to the UK as the Taliban regained control of the country.

Yesterday it was revealed that thousands more had been secretly evacuated to the country following a serious data breach which put them in danger of retribution from the Islamic extremists. However, with a housing sector in crisis and dozens of local authorities facing financial peril, there is concern amongst some veterans that their needs are being placed above those of homeless veterans. George Ford, a Parachute Regiment veteran injured in Afghanistan, said: “I think it’s really important to highlight that there’s nothing wrong with us opening our doors to these people.”

Speaking last month, the veteran who said he had been sleeping on friends’ sofas told GB News: “They were under the ruling from the Taliban, and they were being brutalised under horrific acts.

“But ultimately, we need to prioritise the local residents. I’m not the definition of a homeless person. I’m not living in a tent, I’ve still got a family and the support around me that love me and care for me, but ultimately, I need my own place.”

Concerns centre largely not on the right of Afghans to relocate to the country after proving invaluable to British operations, but on the knock-on impact of UK veterans.

Terry Reed, who runs the charity Boxing for Veterans, said: “I think Afghans should get help, especially the ones that have assisted the UK forces, because some of their intelligence would have saved lives.

“But I still think our veterans should get first priority. A lot of veterans do feel let down.”

The Armed Forces Covenant compels local authorities to help military families and veterans in areas such as housing but has been widely criticised for being ineffective.

Op Fortitude, a government programme launched in 2023, works with individual veterans at risk of or experiencing homelessness to help them into temporary housing.

Last year, Keir Starmer pledged £3.5 million of extra support to help veterans at risk of homelessness.

Speaking at the time, Starmer said: “Veterans represent the very best of our country, and we must honour their sacrifices.

"When I came into office, I promised that I would serve our heroes as they have served us.

"That is the least they deserve given the sacrifices they have made, and it is why this government is ensuring homes will be there for heroes across the UK."

ONS figures show that of those who defined themselves as a veteran in the 2021 census, one in 400 had experienced homelessness or rough sleeping, although there is no proven link between their service and their circumstance.