Activists blame man's death on anti-squatting MP's law

The Tory MP for Hove and Portslade became the focus of visceral anger this weekend after homeless man Daniel Gauntlett froze to death on the porch of a derelict bungalow in Aylesford.

Mr Gauntlett, 35, was found dead of hypothermia last Sunday morning following temperatures of -2°C.

The home in Hermitage Lane was empty and slated for demolition but police acting on new anti-squatting legislation had previously stopped him from entering.

The Bill, which was proposed by Mr Weatherley and signed into law last year, made it a criminal offence to squat in a residential property - meaning police could immediately evict and arrest Mr Gauntlett.

The MP could not be reached for comment today, but the creator of anonymous website Is Mike Weatherley Dead Yet? pulled no punches.

"[The] situation of homeless people is already desperate. Mike Weatherley is personally responsible for making it worse," they told the Morning Star.

"I hope he remembers that every time he tries to go to sleep."

Figures released by Kent's local authorities in January found an estimated 108 rough sleepers in the county every night last year.

But campaigners say the problem is national.

Official figures last month showed a 6 per cent rise in the number of rough sleepers across England and Wales, with homeless charity Crisis warning benefit cuts would drive the deathtoll even higher.