THE tragic death of a homeless man just yards from the entrance to Parliament should serve as a wake-up call to the government, politicians and charities said yesterday.

Local charity The Connection has identified the man found dead on Wednesday morning as a Portuguese former model in his forties who used its services regularly.

It said: “These tragic deaths are not just statistics.”

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn left a note at the scene where the man was found.

“This should never have happened. As a country we must stop walking by. Rest in peace,” the note read.

His office staff also left flowers for the man, having often bought him hot food in the past.

Mr Corbyn has pledged that a Labour government would build 8,000 new homes for rough sleepers.

Polly Neate, chief executive of housing charity Shelter, said: “Many rough sleepers will die young.

“We need to do more to help people off the streets and to prevent homelessness in the first place.

“That means tackling the lack of genuinely affordable homes at the root of this crisis.”