Harlow Labour slam Dan Swords over local government “u-turn”
News / Sat 16th May 2026 at 06:20am
THE leader of Harlow Labour has hit out at Harlow Council leader Dan Sword’s plans to oppose plans for Harlow to join up with Epping and Uttlesford Council’s as part of local government re-organisation.
Cllr James Griggs said: “It didn’t take long for Cllr Swords to show his true colours and jump into bed with Reform in opposing LGR.
The ‘Local Conservative’ brand appears to be little more than ‘Reform Lite’.
Having advocated for the 5 Essex unitary authority option just a few months ago Cllr Swords is now, in a screeching U-Turn, pledging to fight against it claiming it ‘will cost tens of millions’ and is ‘not in Harlow’s interests’.
What he really means is it’s not in his interests.
When he says he will not ‘waste taxpayers money chasing a fantasy’ I take that as a commitment from him that not one penny of Harlow taxpayers money will be spent on legal fees, officer time and PR consultants in his pursuit of pandering to the Reform agenda in this way.
LGR was previously greeted with enthusiasm by Essex Conservatives, now they oppose it.
Can we also assume that Cllr Swords will refuse a seat on the Joint Committee being set up to begin the implementation of the new West Essex Council?
To join it whilst being opposed to its express purpose would be an act of astonishing hypocrisy.
Why on earth would Cllr Swords not want the transfer of more powers to a more local authority than ECC?
Is he really happy to leave Social Care, Education, Pothole repairs, etc at County Hall in the hands of Reform?
“So much for putting Harlow first!”
Val
2026-05-16 07:20:35
James Griggs capacity for stupidity seems to know no bounds. This whole local government reorganisation has been imposed by the incompetent Labour government. Councils were presented with a fait accompli and in the circumstances, the 5 authority option seemed the least bad. However, it was poorly thought through by the Government, not properly cost assessed and on a completely unrealistic timeframe. With the recent change in control at Essex, it is right to oppose this Labour government nonsense. Labour in Harlow and Essex are now an irrelevance and no longer a true opposition. Be interesting to see what our Starmer lapdog MP Chris Vince has to say. Will he defend Harlow or obey His Master's Voice? Think we all know the answer to that.
Roz
2026-05-16 07:31:21
Is Labour's James Griggs living in a cave? Reform UK stormed to electoral triumph opposing the Labour government's ridiculous local government reorganisation plans. There is a clear democratic mandate to oppose this given by the electorate of Essex. Clearly Cllr Griggs - whose own party were humiliatingly wiped out in the recent local elections - has a problem with democracy.
David Forman
2026-05-16 07:34:47
Note to Editor: Slam! More like a gentle push.
Lez
2026-05-16 07:51:17
Labour know about u turns
Jac
2026-05-16 09:01:16
What Mr Griggs is forgetting is this Government is forcing through a restructure without a asking the residents of Essex what they want ! So is that how democracy works within the liebour party? Obviously losing 5 of his fellow councillors didn't make it clear how the people of Harlow feel about Labour ! And as for u turns that's all Labour has done since they got into power!
Seamus
2026-05-16 10:48:51
It's been some time since Councillor Griggs Labour party have been in control of any council and his comments show it will be an even longer before they are trusted again. From time to time, district and county councils may agree or align on some events where they have a shared mindset on behalf of Harlow/Essex residents. Both Harlow and Essex county council never asked for this, never thought about this because at it's core are two of the biggest lies from a Labour government, concerning unitary authorities. The people never asked for this nor will it save money. Harlow labour party might as well take 4 years worth of gardening leave, it's not as though they do anything to benefit Harlow or its residents.
Oakie
2026-05-16 11:08:48
Before getting too irate at Labour for the proposed local government reorganisation, readers might want to remember that the process was started under the last Conservative government at the express invitation of Conservative controlled Essex County Council and with the enthusiastic support of Harlow's Conservative councillors.
David
2026-05-16 11:33:07
James Griggs and Harlow Labour are melting into oblivion. They were trounced in Harlow elections and have just 1 councillor Essex County Council. Dan Swords is absolutely right to defend what are perceived to be Harlow's interests. No Essex residents were consulted this Labour government hairbrain reorganisation. It nothing but a huge distraction and waste of time and money. Once again Cllr Griggs shows why he and his mob are unfit to run Harlow.
Nicholas Taylor
2026-05-16 11:44:07
Whilst the Conservative group ar ECC were avid supporters of change, when I questioned Cllr Swords at a Full Council meeting it was clear that he and his group at Harlow Council had deep reservations about any of the proposals. Support for the West Exxex option was the best of a bad bunch. Cllr Griggs seems to ignore the fact that his party got a thrashing at the recent elections, both in Harlow and across the country. Starmer and the Labour Party have failed to listen to public opinion and Cllr Griggs' letter only seems to carry on this tradition. Whilst there are issues about how ECC is run, decentralising issues such as social care is not the way to resolve these, afterall Chelmsford is only 16 miles away. As for Reform, the first thing they have done is to cancel charges for book reservations, a really good thing. IF they go on and make a success of ECC those on the left of politics will be left in the wilderness.
Frank
2026-05-16 13:13:02
Be realistic, if Burham gets back into a MP then the leader, Rayner will be back on the cabinet, this was her idea and we know labour don’t listen to anyone that don’t agree with them. Epping and Uttlesford are still talking to each other but Harlow have pulled away from the talks I hope there is a plan B or there is a risk that Harlow will disappear
Mike
2026-05-16 13:29:18
This whole reorganisation was an Angela Raynor idea. Says it all. As for James Griggs accusing Dan Swords of a U-turn, he has to be joking. Labour has done more U-turns than a driving school. Who takes any notice of anything said by Labour?
Paul
2026-05-16 13:44:27
Does James Griggs know the political composition of Essex County Council? Reform UK. 53 Conservative Party. 13 Liberal Democrats. 5 Independent. 2 Green Party. 1 Labour Party. 1 Residents for Uttlesford. 1 The People’s Independent Party. 1 Reform and the 5 Harlow Conservative Essex County councillors have a clear democratic mandate to challenge this. James Griggs is treating the electorate with utter contempt as is the Labour Party with the voters of Makerfield by trying to lay Andy Burnham on them. Doesn't Cllr Griggs realise, we don't want Starmer, Burnham, Raynor, Milliband or whoever. We want a General Election and a change of government.
Darren
2026-05-16 16:06:45
And yet again James Giggs has nothing better to do than point fingers like a spoilt child in the school playground when things don't go his way. ZZZZZzzzzz!!
rasp
2026-05-16 16:56:36
Cant wait for labour and conservative are no more.
Jake Shepherd
2026-05-17 09:47:26
Folks, the process of creating Unitary Authorities is well established. Cornwall became a unitary authority in April 2009. Cumbria was replaced by two unitary authorities, Cumberland and Westmorland & Furness, in April 2023. Surrey is undergoing the process right now. The two grown-up parties have seen sense and have steered through LGR where it makes genuine sense - like here in Essex. Why the 'local' Conservatives are deviating from their national position I am unsure. When I had the privilege of representing Passmores as a Labour and Co-operative Councillor, I had to often explain to people why it was so that we could get a hedge trimmed in less than 24hrs (because it was the remit of Harlow Council/HTS), but that during my two year term there remained footpaths and potholes which Essex Highways (an arm of Essex County Council), 20mph zones outside schools- or dropped curb applications which once rejected residents had no recourse via their local Councillors. The two-tier system is as broken as our roads, and it's an act of political cowardice to chicken out of LGR. Stay the course, give local Council's the power over highways (potholes), libraries and dropped curbs etc. - there's so much to gain and we are watching this opportunity be squandered for the sake of political convenience. Passmores residents rightly expected better of Essex County Council, the two-tier system has failed them, it's time to innovate and simplify the system. Jake Shepherd Former Passmores Ward Councillor (2024 - 2026)
Gingerprince
2026-05-17 09:49:10
Cllr Griggs - oh dear me you appear to live in a parallel universe with you U-turn comment. Cast your mind back to 25th March Council meeting where Dan Swords expressed his concerns over costs etc but that it was a Government decision that he clearly had reservations about but had no choice but to accept the best option of a very bad set of choices. Now he has the local mandate after the local elections he can use his power to fight the ridiculous Labour imposed idea. Cllr Griggs - if you just keep sniping from the sidelines like this you are losing even more of any chance Labour have of getting anywhere close to the local Council in Harlow I'm afraid.
Nicholas Taylor
2026-05-17 11:03:18
Jake, there is no evidence that having Unitary Authorities improve services, saves money or indeed were created because residents wanted them. Your party in Harlow failed to call for public consultation or public meetings in Harlow to discuss this issue and the results of the recent elections clearly give a mandate for cancelling any changes. It is a complete red herring to compare sevices from ECC and HDC. If five new councils are to take on services such as Highways and Social Care for example, then each will need a whole new staffing structure, instead of just one at ECC. The extra cost will be enormous, putting yet more strain on frontline services. Lets not forget that over two thirds of those that did respond to the consultation held across the county took the view that services would not improve with such changes and that local identity would be lost. If these changes go ahead, it will be a disaster for Harlow, it's future will be held in the hands of councillors living miles away from the town. I am afraid that unless you and your fellow Labour supporters start listening to the public, there is no future for the Labour Party as a whole.
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