According to a Freedom of Information Request submitted by Reform MP for South Basildon an East Thurrock James McMurdock, Basildon Council has kept people in temporary accommodation for more than six weeks 100 times over the last two years.
Government legislation states all local authorities should not use temporary accommodation for more than six weeks at a time.
Labour’s leader of Basildon Council, has hit back against Mr McMurdock’s claims (Image: George Pizani)Gavin Callaghan, Labour leader of Basildon Council, has hit back, slamming Mr McMurdock as “a woman basher” over his prior conviction for assaulting his then girlfriend in 2006.
According to the Freedom of Information Request submitted by Mr McMurdock, the council has repeatedly broken government legislation around homelessness since April 2023.
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The figures show 100 families, pregnant women and care leavers have been left in single room bed-and-breakfast accommodation for more than six weeks at a time.
Mr McMurdock has been visiting temporary accommodation housing his constituents (Image: James McMurdock MP)He said: “Basildon Council have been routinely putting people at risk. Their actions are harmful, waste public money, and show no respect for vulnerable people who need help the most. We have seen instances of families of three and four cramped into small rooms for weeks and months on end. They are behaving like a slum landlord.”
Mr McMurdock also criticised Mr Callaghan personally for allegedly dismissing complaints and trying to stop his office from investigating.
Labour’s leader of Basildon Council, has hit back against Mr McMurdock’s claims (Image: PA Wire)In response to his claims, the council leader said: “James McMurdock is a convicted criminal who viciously beat up a woman and then lied continuously to the people of South Basildon and East Thurrock about his criminal past.
“I won’t take any lectures from this woman basher on anything, least of all on housing or on protecting vulnerable women. He doesn’t have a clue what he’s talking about on this and his amateur attempts at playing politics are obvious for everyone to see.”
Mr Callaghan denied Mr McMurdock’s claims that he tried to stop the MP’s office from investigating.
He added: “I’ve done more in six months to support homeless people in Basildon than McMurdock has done in his criminal lifetime. The people of Basildon, and crucially, the families in temporary accommodation, know what I’m doing to support them and they understand it.”