Councillor Battles Council Over Afghan Scheme Costs

Councillor John Edwards, a Reform UK campaigns manager, has spent thousands defending himself after questioning Bracknell Forest Council's role in the governments Afghan Resettlement Programme and highlighting the use of the former Grange Hotel to accommodate Afghan citizens.

He is an Independent for Owlsmoor on Sandhurst Town Council and faces an investigation into alleged breaches of conduct. He says he will 'fight on' despite rising costs and has been fundraising for his defence.

"After nearly a year, the independent investigator's initial report cleared me of all the allegations of discrimination and breaching confidentiality, saying there was little to no evidence and my publications on the scheme were fact-based.

"Nevertheless, despite previously confirming it would accept the investigator's finding, the council refused to accept his initial report.

"They went back to the investigator, who then changed his report to conclude that, although there was still no discrimination or breach of confidentiality, I had somehow brought my role into disrepute by sharing images of the accommodation with residents against the council's wishes, as they didn't want residents to know.

"This was despite the information not being confidential, already being in the public domain, clearly in the public interest, and the investigator himself describing the Council officer's request as 'somewhat oblique and unsatisfactory'."

Edwards has received help from the Free Speech Union (FSU), which has been criticised for having a right-wing political bias.

"My estimated legal fees for the advice, correspondence, pre-hearing meeting and the hearing itself are now over £18,000.

"Without the support and generosity of hundreds of people who donated to my crowdfunder, and the support of the FSU, it would have been impossible for anyone to defend themselves properly against a process like this."

He also said the council has hired external solicitors, including a lawyer who previously conducted the standards investigation into Boris Johnson.

Stuart McKellar, the council's executive director for resources, said: "The council is aware of recent public commentary concerning this matter.

"The matter is due to be considered by a panel in the coming weeks. In order to respect that process, it would be inappropriate for the council to comment further at this stage.

"The findings of the panel hearing will be published in due course."

James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter