Councillor reported to police for wanting residents to ‘have the same level of support’ as Afghan refugees – London Business News | London Wallet

A fellow Labour councillor has reported a councillor to the police for saying that residents should “have the same level of support” as Afghan refugees.

Councillor John Edwards backed a motion to support Afghan nationals who served with British troops who are considered “in danger from the Taliban” or are “vulnerable.”

Edwards said that Afghan refugees have a “four star hotel, all their food catered for” all free of charge and they have “private delivered healthcare” and added that Bracknell residents do not get this type of support nor do veterans who have fought for our country.

Edwards said that Bracknell resident and UK veteran should get the “same support, not less,” which then prompted a Labour councillor to report him to the police, for simply telling the truth.

Speaking to GB News about Afghan refugees he said, “They’ve been given a four-star hotel, all their food catered for, all their bills obviously paid for.”

He added, “They get private-delivered healthcare – it’s not Bupa, but it’s outside the NHS, and avoids waiting times, and there’s wraparound care and move on support. I thought, this surely isn’t the type of support of Bracknell residents and veterans get?”

Edwards then wanted to hear of stories from people who are on a housing waiting list, he said, “I put out a post for people on the housing waiting list or waiting for support, and found single mothers in one bed flats with four kids where the mould is so bad it put their kids in hospital. She feels like she’s failed.

“A veteran, he’s got two young kids in a single bed flat with mould so bad that his kids have been hospital with respiratory conditions.

“He served in Afghanistan. He said, I know what these guys did, I want them to be safe. I want us to help, but where’s my help?”

He said that scheme is “unfair” and he wants to bring “transparency,” adding, “This isn’t about being divisive. The people who have arrived need to be treated with respect and dignity.”

Edwards then accused Bracknell Forest Council of “whitewashing” the facts about their refugee scheme.

He told GB News, “I haven’t just been reported to the police by a resident, I’ve been reported to the police by Labour councillor at Bracknell Forest for bringing transparency to this. I wanted parity for Bracknell residents and veterans and I wanted transparency.

“It should have been totally uncontroversial, but I’ve been reported to the police. I’ve had complaints put into me.”