Addlestone Conservatives

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**Press release from Spelthorne Conservative Association**

“Go now – let the people of Stanwell have their say”

Conservatives demand Stanwell Labour councillors quit and call for “local referendum” on migrant hotel. “Stanwell Councillors don’t speak for Stanwell.

Independent Leader Jo Sexton and her Deputy, Lib Dem Chris Bateson, slammed as “yet again, out of touch with local opinion.”
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Spelthorne Conservatives are demanding that Stanwell’s Labour councillors – John Button and Sue and John Doran – resign their seats and trigger a by-election following last night’s vote on the migrant hotel in Stanwell and the Labour Government’s plan to fill it with single men.

Cllr Karen Howkins said:
“Stanwell’s Labour councillors let local people down by refusing to back a Conservative motion calling for the immediate closure of the hotel. Stanwell Councillors don’t speak for Stanwell.”

Cllr Howkins, who launched a petition attracting nearly 3,000 signatures in just days, added:
“Along with our local Conservative MP Lincoln Jopp, I have been knocking on doors in Stanwell to discuss this issue. Understandably, people are angry and concerned.

Last night’s Council vote shows just how out of touch the Lib Dem, Green, Independent and Labour councillors are.

Local people are not being heard, and their views are not being represented.

If Stanwell’s Labour councillors are so confident they reflect local opinion, let them re-stand for election now and let the people have their say.”

A Spokesperson for the Spelthorne Conservatives said:
“The emergency council meeting made a mockery of local democracy. Only the Conservatives stood with the people of Stanwell, echoing their real worries and concerns.
Our amendment to the motion – which had to be submitted on the day of the meeting due to council procedure – was rejected by a ragtag alliance of Independent, Lib Dem, Green, and Labour councillors. They should hang their heads in shame.”
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Background to the issue

• For some time, the Stanwell Hotel has been used by the Labour Government to house migrant families.
• Without warning or consultation, Labour has now decided to evict those families and replace them with single male migrants.
• This move has sparked outrage across Stanwell, with residents voicing fears about community safety, already stretched public services, and a total disregard for local opinion.
• Stanwell is already under pressure from Heathrow expansion, Houses of multiple occupation (HMOs) and limited local resources – yet Labour has chosen to put local needs last.
• A petition launched by Conservative Cllr Karen Hawkins calling for the closure of the hotel to migrant accommodation has reached nearly 3,000 signatures in just days.
• At last night’s emergency Council meeting, Labour, Lib Dem, Green, and Independent councillors voted down the Conservative motion to close the hotel.
• Conservatives say this proves these councillors are “out of touch” and “don’t speak for Stanwell”.
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The Conservative amendment was to add an additional point as follows: 5) Call the immediate and permanent closure of the Stanwell hotel used as an asylum seeker facility and urge the Home Office to return the hotel back to the local community.

For further information please contact Cllr Karen Howkins.