The Tory Government can count the number of MPs votes for their beleaguered leader, Theresa May, but can’t count the number of homeless.

Charity “Crisis” says the true number of rough sleepers in England is six times higher than Government figures.

It says 24,250 are on the streets whereas the Government figure is only 4,751, up 120 per cent in five years.

12,300 are sleeping on the streets, 12,000 spend their nights in tents, cars, trains, or buses.

Government figures for people homeless and living in temporary accommodation like B & Bs has almost doubled since the Tories came to power in 2010 - 82,310 families, including 123,630 children, are in this predicament, compared with 48,010 families at the end of 2010.

The Charity says its figures for rough sleepers are more reliable than the Government’s because they come from multiple sources, including support services and information from the homeless themselves.

These shocking figures for those facing Christmas either in a B & B, or without a roof over their heads, should be grounds for an emergency debate in the House of Commons, and immediate proposals to house the homeless.

In the fifth richest capitalist economy in the world, there is no justification for anyone to be without a home to live in.

While nearly 124,000 children will wake up in a B & B on Christmas morning, the country’s PM is more concerned with clinging on to power, saving her political career, and haggling with EU leaders over Brexit.

Corbyn and company should be tabling a motion of “No Confidence” in this Government as a matter of urgency. If it is defeated thanks to 11 Ulster Unionist MPs, Corbyn should then issue a call for a General Strike to bring down a Government that is only kept in power by 11 out of 650 MPs.

James Roberts, Wallasey.