Former Army Captain Says Sleeping Rough Is "More Comfortable" Than Being On Exercise

A Tory MP and former Army captain has described his own experience of sleeping rough on London's streets as a "lot more comfortable" than going on exercise in the forces.

Adam Holloway, MP for Gravesham, sparked a reaction from some opposition MPs as he made the claim during his Westminster Hall debate on street homelessness.

He said: "One observation I do have is that if you are fit and of sound mind, there are all sorts of services, not quite 24-hours a day, that make it possible to sleep out.

"I'm 52 years old, I was in the Army. To be honest, for me sleeping rough in central London is a lot more comfortable than going on exercise when I was in the Army.

"But if you are mentally ill or you are drug addicted or you are old or you are personality disordered, then it is a very different thing."

He added: "So I think we do have to accept that some people are able to sleep rough in our cities because there are the resources to do so."

Labour's Laura Smith (Crewe and Nantwich) intervened saying she had been out with homeless people in her constituency, adding:

"I don't relate to what you're saying at all, I have to say."