Mansfield's council says it allocates housing "fairly and objectively" after the area's MP came under fire for comments about "non-British nationals" on waiting lists. Ben Bradley, who is also the Conservative Party's candidate for East Midlands Mayor, has been accused of being as "far right as it comes" for his comments, made in a party political broadcast on Tuesday .
A council spokesperson said: "When someone applies to join the housing register, a decision is based on the district local connection test and other criteria within the Mansfield District Council home finder policy. The aim of the policy is to ensure that all social housing within the district is allocated fairly and objectively to those with the greatest housing need.
Frank Adlington-Stringer, standing for the Green Party, said: "He didn't say refugees, he didn't say asylum seekers, he didn't say migrants and he didn't say citizens. What he said is straight out the UKIP playbook, this is as far right as it comes. Responding to the criticism, Mr Bradley posted on X: "Apparently saying that British taxpayer-funded social housing should be prioritised to house British nationals - reflecting the fact that the first duty of the British Government is to protect and support British citizens - is now 'far right hate speech' and 'the language of the BNP'.