Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has said his party would ban foreign nationals from living in social housing, with tenants required to find private accommodation within three months or face possible deportation.

The party confirmed the ban would apply retrospectively, regardless of how long someone has been living in the UK, under Reform’s policy of abolishing Indefinite Leave to Remain.

In a 6,800-word Substack essay, external, the Clacton MP said “anti-white racism was embedded into the state”, and that legislation aimed at equality was a form of “social cleansing”.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy told Sky News: “People want hope. They don’t want more anger, they don’t want more division.”

“There are serious challenges that this country faces. People have not felt listened to or heard,” she said, adding: People want better, they want more.”

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said Farage was “pushing the politics of grievance and division that goes totally against our fundamental British values of tolerance and decency”.

He reiterated his party’s policy that foreign nationals would not have access to welfare and said those in social housing would have three months to find alternative private rented accommodation.

Those who did not move would lose their right to remain and could face deportation.

Social housing, usually provided by housing associations or local councils, is typically cheaper and more secure than privately rented homes.

There are currently around 1.34 million households on social housing waiting lists.

Some people are given priority, for example if they are at risk of homelessness, live in overcrowded accommodation, have served in the Armed Forces or have a connection to the local area.

Migrants in the UK on student or work visas, those who arrived in the country illegally with no leave to remain and asylum seekers are not usually eligible for social housing.

Under Reform’s plans, EU citizens would also lose the right to social housing, with the party planning to renegotiate post-Brexit treaties with the EU on aspects of citizens’ rights that are “non-reciprocal”.

The stance on social housing is similar to that of Restore’s, the party formed by Great Yarmouth MP Rupert Lowe after he was suspended from Reform.

Recent polls from the Makerfield by-election have suggested that Restore could be gaining support from voters at the expense of Reform.

A full list of all the candidates standing in the Makerfield by-election can be found here.

In his article, Farage also said a Reform government would limit schools to celebrating “accepted civic events” and that “pupils should not be forced to celebrate Black History Month, Pride Month and Refugee Week”.

Asked by the BBC if this would mean schools were banned from taking part in activities for those events, a spokesman said: “Under a Reform Government, the progressive indoctrination of our children will end.”

Under the policy, schools would be able to mark St George’s Day and other national celebrations, as well as D-Day.