Letter to Editor: Redstone: the truth vs fear mongering
News / Wed 8th Oct 2025 at 07:39am
THE Leader of the council has much to explain for the situation that has evolved over the past 24 hrs.
He claims the Home Office were trying to house asylum seekers in over 200 beds in Redstone (Endeavour) House.
This is quite simply not true.
He’s been asked repeatedly to produce the evidence to support his claim but had failed to do so.
Could this be because the consultation form (not a Home Office letter as he claimed) enquired about the use of just 3 beds in one flat?
A further letter from the Home Office to our MP Chris Vince clarifies the position and confirms that the enquiry was only ever about 3 beds and was not to be escalated to the use of more.
The leader of the council must urgently answer the following questions:
Was he incompetent in not understanding the initial consultation form?
Did he deliberately mislead residents in his claim that the Home Office were seeking to use over 200 beds in the building?
Why did he not simply fill in the consultation form and return it like many other councils have done?
Why did he choose to cynically whip up public fear and division for his own political purposes?
Will he now apologise to the current residents of Redstone House for causing fear and anxiety and provoking the demonstration they had to endure outside their homes last night?
Will he now apologise to Harlow residents for either his incompetence or for wilfully misleading them?
To date the council does not appear to have communicated with Clearspring, the Home Office contractor, regarding this matter.
The Leader of the Council appears to yet again be trying to out-Reform Reform with political posturing to create fear and division in our communities out of a standard procedural enquiry from the Home Office.
This has been a disgraceful failure of leadership in favour of political opportunism.
Councillor James Griggs
Leader of Harlow Labour
David Forman
2025-10-08 07:49:42
I agree with James Griggs that answers are indeed needed. However, Chris Vince needs to provide evidence of his claims of ongoing fire safety issues at Redstone House. This clearly needs an answer as people's safety is at issue. So Mr Swords let's see the Home Office letter and Mr Vince your letter to Essex Fire and Rescue Service.
Dan Swords
2025-10-08 07:50:40
This is utter nonsense and we will be proving today why that is the case. The Government has been totally clear they are seeking 204 beds for asylum seekers. We stopped that and today we will expose this.
Dan Swords
2025-10-08 07:53:15
It is a shame this is the best the Labour folks can muster. I have not been political in any way, shape or form. I did not criticise Chris Vince for the fact he didn't even know about it or the fact it was his Government proposing to do that so it is a real shame that they have reverted to attacking me - and the council - politically. Today, we will simply expose the truth.
David Forman
2025-10-08 08:00:27
A reminder for Mr Vince from the BBC that the issues at Redstone House were: insufficient smoke detection and alarm system, defective automatic operating vents and defective firefighters lift. ITV News said the prohibition notice was withdrawn by Essex County Fire & Rescue Service on July 30. See links https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cdj2j8g7l40o https://www.itv.com/news/anglia/2025-09-08/evicted-residents-priced-out-as-flat-rents-hiked-50-after-fire-safety-work
scotth
2025-10-08 08:19:20
Cheap shots by a Labour Party who should be ashamed of their Government's treatment of the people of this country. Then we have the Conservatives flailing around for a good news story and possibly weaponising the approach re. Endeavour House, that is until they realised the anxiety they had stirred among the trusting residents of Harlow. This seems to have led to the astonishing claim that in a 24 hour period they had "won" and seen off the Home Office-Clearspring. The whole affair stretches credibility and patience, with both parties, to breaking point.
Gertrude
2025-10-08 08:24:37
James Griggs is merely trying to deflect attention from the failings of Labour by attacking the Leadet of our Council who has steadfastly defended our town and residents against Government and other authorities dumping their illegals and undesirables here. Whereas Cllr Griggs in his earlier letter shows that his sympathies rest with the illegal migrants over our own people. Disgraceful conduct by him. He and Liebour will be our ruin.
Gertrude
2025-10-08 08:25:48
James Griggs is again seeking to attack the Leader of the Council for his steadfast defence of our town and our residents. See Cllr Griggs earlier letter where he focused almost entirely on the interests of the illegal migrants to be dumped in Harlow. His attitude is a disgrace and betrayal of Harlow and its people.
AB
2025-10-08 08:35:22
Demolition Dan keeps promising evidence for his claims about the Home Office looking to house over 200 asylum seekers in Harlow. Less talk, more action DD!
David
2025-10-08 08:50:33
Dan sword, no one has "attacked" you. Show a little back bone please. 🙄
Kevin B Forbes
2025-10-08 08:57:28
This is sadly deceit by a person in power of many, and on a subject threatening the people of Harlow. There is no other option, that he must stand down, his position , loss of trust to people of Harlow and his many friends and colleagues. Deceit is a terrible thing to do to the old and young trying to make a honest and safe community.
Darren
2025-10-08 10:50:16
Just imagine if all parties worked together instead of their childish sniping at each other and seeking brownie points from the electorate, this country would be so much better
Jamie
2025-10-08 11:22:43
Dan - it's clear from your interview today that James' and Chris' account of this has been vindicated and you have misled people. You explicitly said 204 people at Endeavour House. Your interview makes clear that Endeavour House is only part of a wider consultation and there was no intention to house 204 people there. It's frankly astounding that you're doubling down on this.
Tim
2025-10-08 16:06:22
Why did you not this feature in the original article publish today? It tells a very different story. Yet you only quote Swords, who is busy trolling the comments section here. This is more bad journalism
Mike
2025-10-08 16:23:34
If Dan Swords cannot provide the evidence to prove what he said was correct, then it seems that he has been trying to score political points by looking "tough" against immigration and by apparently "standing up to" the Government. By doing this he has created fear and concern in the local community, that could further escalate racial tensions and create problems for immigrants, whether illegal or not. If this is what he has done and if he cannot provide the proof to back up his claims, then it MUST be a resigning matter.
Seamus
2025-10-08 19:08:37
At it's bare bones, the government agent wanted to dump 204 illegal economic migrants into Harlow. That has now been thwarted. Does it matter if it's in redstone or elsewhere in Harlow?
Rory
2025-10-09 09:52:27
Hilarious that the leader of Harlow Council is a keyboard warrior
Ted
2025-10-12 09:30:37
Rory. Many people who write posts on this site are always asking for a reply from DS .You either do want a reply or you dont. Make your mind up.
Stuart G
2025-10-15 15:33:46
Still waiting for you to publish your evidence that the Home Office is lying, Dan Swords! You can hope it will all blow over and be forgotten, whilst moonlighting as that creepy guy from Love Actually in your Christmas propaganda videos, but a lot of us want to you be true to your word!
Adrienne Barlow
2025-10-18 06:51:05
I do think the public deserves a reply Mr Swords. If what you are saying is the truth please answer your public. They only want to know the truth. I know you are a busy man. But the public are entitled to straight forward answers. Perhaps,the Editor could find out for the us.
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