Voice of the Mirror: 127,000 kids are sleeping rough in Tory Britain this Christmas

Most of us will be able to celebrate Christmas in a cosy, centrally heated home of our own.

So spare a thought for the 127,000 children who will be homeless this Christmas.

Some will be making do in emergency B&Bs or hostels for their Christmas dinner.

Others will be living rough on the streets with no dinner at all and only a soup kitchen if they’re lucky to relieve the misery.

The number of children without a permanent roof over their heads has gone up 75 per cent since the Tories came to power nine years ago.

Since the Tory party has been in power, the number of homeless kids has rise by 75 per cent — Since the Tory party has been in power, the number of homeless kids has risen by 75 per cent
(Image: PA)

And if the shameful state of affairs carries on at this rate, Shadow Housing Secretary John Healey calculates there will be nearly 158,000 of them by the time Boris Johnson completes his first full term in Downing Street.

The PM talks a good game when it comes to looking after the poor and vulnerable. Yet talk is all we have heard so far.

There was nothing in the Queen’s Speech to ease the social care crisis he promised to fix five months ago when he first entered No10.

This newspaper respects the result of the General Election, just as we accepted the result of the EU referendum.

John Healey believes around 158,000 children will sleep on the streets by the end of prime minister's first full term — John Healey calculates there will be nearly 158,000 children on the streets by the end of the prime minister’s first full term
(Image: Newcastle Chronicle)

But our New Year resolution will be to hold the PM’s feet to the fire to ensure he fulfils the promises he makes.

It is unacceptable in a relatively rich nation such as ours for a child to become homeless every eight minutes.

If Mr Johnson has a compassionate bone in his body, that child homelessness figure must come down by next Christmas.

Telford justice

We are calling her Sarah – the brave Telford abuse victim who saw justice done when four men were convicted of exploiting her for sex.

Courageous 'Sarah' Telford abuse victim testified against four men who abused her (stock image) — Courageous ‘Sarah’ Telford abuse victim testified against four men who abused her (stock image)
(Image: Getty Images)

It took huge courage to testify against them for what they did when she was only 12.

And it is thanks to the tenacity of our Investigations Editor Geraldine McKelvie and colleague Nick Sommerlad that the scale of the Telford scandal has been exposed.

Their exhaustive 18-month probe in the Sunday Mirror eventually shamed the authorities into acting.

There are up to 1,000 Sarahs out there.

And they all deserve justice.