28-07-2025
Councillor ‘reported to cops for racial hatred' after asking if homeless vets will get same support as migrants in hotel
A COUNCILLOR who asked if homeless veterans could also be housed in migrant hotels was allegedly reported to cops for "stirring up hate".
Cllr John Edwards claims he was "smeared" after he questioned Bracknell Forest Council's decision to house more than 300 Afghan migrants in four-star hotels in favour of hard-hit locals.
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The independent councillor, who serves on Sandhurst Town Council, was reportedly put under investigation after he called for more clarity when hundreds of Afghans were placed in local hotels.
He was allegedly reported by Labour councillor Cherise Welch, who accused him of "stirring up hate" after he suggested that key information was being withheld from Berkshire residents.
But it has since been revealed that the Government secretly relocated thousands of Afghans to the UK following a major Ministry of Defence email blunder.
Writing on his Facebook in April, Cllr Edwards called for the migrants to be treated with "respect and dignity", but admitted he was worried for the knock-on effect for desperate residents.
He said: "Bracknell is resettling over 300 Afghans in a local hotel—and I don't believe residents are being told the full story.
"I'm increasingly concerned that key information is either being withheld or presented in a way that makes it difficult to see how unfair this scheme is.
"I want to make it clear that everyone arriving on this scheme must be treated with respect and dignity. But I also believe it's completely reasonable to ask what impact this scheme will have on our area.
"If the money is there to house Afghans in a four-star hotel, why aren't any of the Labour, Lib Dem or Conservative councillors asking why this hasn't been provided for Bracknell's veterans or residents first?
"As a Town Councillor, I felt compelled to look into this and speak up, because no other elected representative was."
In response, Cllr Welch suggested the post was "complete nonsense", adding she had reported him to "the MOD, Council and local police".
Others accused the concerned councillor of "spreading far-right propaganda" and targeting "specific ethnic groups".
Speaking to the MailOnline, Cllr Edwards explained he had not been contacted by the police, but said his reputation had been harmed, despite his claims of a cover-up turning out to be true.
He added: "The council has fuelled a narrative that I'm spreading hate and misinformation, despite my claims being true.
"Another councillor has said publicly they have reported me to the police for stirring racial hatred.
"It's stressful and potentially very harmful to my reputation.
'It's a way to smear and silence me, and it has a chilling effect which amounts to, 'disagree with the council and you will be call a racist'."
He posted pictures of the interior and exterior facilities in the hotel, blurring out the background to conceal the location.
But he was also accused of identifying the hotel by posting the images, which he strongly denies.
Earlier this month, it emerged that almost 20,000 Afghans had been secretly relocated to the UK after a major Ministry of Defence error.
The February 2022 leak was caused by a Special Forces soldier who accidentally shared a list of 18,714 people who had applied to flee to Britain in the wake of the 2021 Taliban takeover of Afghanistan.
The list also included names of their individual UK sponsors including SAS and MI6 spies and at least one Royal Marine Major General.
The clumsy click has potential to be the most expensive data breach in history.
A total of 18,714 Afghans were included on the secret list, many of whom arrived via unmarked planes which landed at Stansted airport.
Although Defence Secretary John Healey has said that the cost of relocating the Afghans and their families will total £400 million, the final cost could be even higher.
The information was kept a secret for 18 months through a superinjunction used by the MoD – the first time one had been used by the Government against the press.
Around 100,000 were put at risk of Taliban death squads when their names or loved ones were revealed in 2022 — with the blunder then 'covered up' by the gagging order.
Almost 900 Afghans on the 'kill list' email leak are ready to sue — with lawyers saying thousands more are poised to join them.
Legal sources claimed victims whose lives were endangered could be entitled 'to five-figure payouts'.
Councillor Welch has been approached for comment.
