Along with other Sheffield MPs, I’ve signed a joint letter that calls on the Home Office to stop the accommodation provider, Mears, from evicting people seeking asylum until the coronavirus crisis is over. If evicted, these incredibly vulnerable people would be faced with a complete lack of services and would almost certainly end up destitute and homeless.

Everyone should have safe accommodation and be able to self-isolate securely if needed. No one recovering from Covid-19 should be discharged from NHS care to rough sleep, sofa surf or to stay in accommodation in which maintaining self-isolation and good hygiene is not possible.

That’s why we’ve called on the Home Office to block book hotel rooms so that people who are rough sleeping or sofa surfing can self-isolate. Without this support, people who are homeless cannot protect their own health and risk transmitting the virus to other members of the community.

It is vital that the government moves quickly on this to prevent people seeking asylum from being exposed to risks that can, and should, be avoided.