Conservative councillor slams MP over UK Health Agency: “It is disappointing that chancellor and MP seem to be getting their excuses in early”
News / Wed 7th May 2025 at 03:08pm
CONSERVATIVE councillor Joel Charles has responded to the publication of a letter written by the Chancellor about the case for specialist UK Health Security Agency laboratory facilities to be located in Harlow:
“It is disappointing that the Chancellor and our local Member of Parliament seem to be getting their excuses in early about the UK Health Security Agency campus in Harlow.
“The previous Conservative Government was committed to investing in Harlow’s future. It is worrying that the Chancellor has chosen to send out such a negative signal ahead of the conclusion of the Spending Review.
“If the Chancellor was serious about stimulating local economic growth, then she would have not hesitated in her letter to back the case for the laboratory facilities to be based in Harlow. Bringing skilled job opportunities to the town will enable future growth.
“Supporting already committed investment into Harlow is essential. Doing so will also complement the ambition set out as part of the UK Innovation Corridor, situated along the M11, to make our part of the country home to life sciences and knowledge-based industries. Anything less would set back the progress made to date and signal a damaging retreat by the current Labour Government.
“I hope reason prevails and the previously promised investment is not withdrawn.”
Peter
2025-05-07 15:56:33
Given Mr Charles' own party failed to bring this project to fulfilment at a cost of millions, I am not quite sure how he can criticize Labour for having it under review
Tiredoffailedpoliticalnorms
2025-05-07 16:17:05
Councillor Charles, the failure here is bilateral, though in my opinion with much ‘responsibility’ lying at the former Conservative MP Robert Halfon, and the Conservative government’s feet. The lack of planning, political will to push this through spreading back for over 10 years (HPA were on site performing due diligence in 2010!! ). Sir, People in glass houses … ! The bigger failure I would also argue has been the lack of a clear no-go to the plan 5,6, 7 years ago. The opportunity cost is massive as the space could have easily have been used for much sought after lab space for the biotech industry…rather than extortionate costs of redevelopment of old retail sites in Oxford and Cambridge that have taken precedence instead. It is ludicrous the site that was not redeveloped for the purpose it was designed for! This failure seems to be being perpetuated by the current MP an Government…so please take note Mr Vince… a prompt decision is needed ASAP , to avoid Harlow being strung along for another 10+ years whilst locations like Oxbridge and Stevenage received significant investment in this important industry. I would suggest the local parties STOP the petty bickering and put the town first for once!!
Adam
2025-05-07 19:47:13
The issue is skilled staff and they do not want to ever relocate, especially to Harlow. Sensible politicians who had understanding of skilled employees would know that would be the main issue.
Tiredoffailedpoliticalnorms
2025-05-07 19:59:31
Adam, disagree. While I agree getting folks to relocate from Wiltshire would be a challenge, ultimately folks will go where the work/funding is, and I have no doubt there are plenty of talented scientists that would .. Recall both GSK/ Merck were based in Harlow previously. That said this would not be such an issue if the space had been used as a biotech hub 6-8 years ago for new startups rather than holding out the HSA.
Resident
2025-05-07 21:34:30
And so the blaming and bickering continues. Remind me again, what happened with this when the tories were in power ? The same as the new hospital i do believe. Every year this building stands empty I imagine the cost of repair and refurbishment climbs significantly. It's already stating to look abandoned and neglected
Resident
2025-05-07 21:40:33
As for skilled workforce relocating ... harlow has gone downhill significantly since GSK and the like were major employers and even then a large number commuted from more affluent areas. We need a council and government that has a will to actually do something about the decline of harlow, the lack of a new hospital, still, and the ongoing farce of this supposed relocation. We just hear empty talk and see ridiculous vanity projects that don't benefit anyone. It seems to be impossible to even lay new paving slabs or finish roadworks that no one wanted in the first place
AB
2025-05-08 07:23:57
Ironic comments given that a Tory government and Tory MP, despite a great deal of lobbying, were conspicuous failures in ensuring that this site re-opened.
Steve
2025-05-08 17:15:56
Agree with the comments on here. Do people like Joel Charles ever stop and wonder why people have such utter contempt for politicians nowadays. There is zero point in listening to anything they put out as it such utter BS. Look in the mirror Joel. What's worse is that they let those who have even less of an idea how to run things get a foot in the door.
Stephen Archer
2025-05-09 10:17:18
If anyone needs slamming over this its the previous Conservative Government and former MP Robert Halfon. Along with then Chancellor George Osborne they announced this spectacular development in September 2015. It would be transformative for Harlow, bringing a specialist science campus of national, international and according to Mr Halfon "world importance". Except no one bothered to consult with the 750 highly skilled civil servant staff employed at Porton Down who would be affected by the move to Harlow. And guess what.....they didn't want to move. And ten years later they haven't moved, and there is no sign of them moving. Meanwhile at Porton a new Vaccine Development and Evaluation Centre with 2,800 m2 state of the art laboratories has opened, part of a broader development initiative including investment in science and technology research facilities. Back at Harlow, the Public Accounts Committee reported last May "There appears to have been no accountability for the programme's estimated costs having risen by over 500% since 2015, the completion date being at best 15 years later than initially planned and other failures in the programme's management. Since 2015, estimated costs for the programme at Harlow have risen from £530 million to over £3 billion. The initial £530 million figure was a serious underestimate that omitted basic factors such as contingencies and inflation and had to be revised that same year. The programme timeline has been extended continuously, with the completion date at best now 2036, 15 years later than the initial estimated completion date of 2021. UKHSA and DHSC were unable to explain to us WHO is responsible for the mishandling of the programme or DESCRIBE ANY ACTIONS that were taken to hold leadership accountable when it became apparent costs and timescales were significantly overrunning". All of this took place under the previous Conservative administration and inherited by Labour on taking office in July. For Conservative Councillor Joel Charles to try and "slam" the current MP and Chancellor for the failures of the previous administration is a jaw dropping attempt at political amnesia, and a masterclass in deflection.
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