Labour MP Jas Athwal “must resign and be investigated” over his links to a failing children’s home, opposition councillors say.
A property owned by Athwal, the former leader of Redbridge Council, has been leased to Heartwood Care Group, which is run by someone thought to be a friend of his.
An investigation by The Londoner found that the company’s funding from the council increased sixfold while Athwal was in charge between 2014 and 2024.
Athwal was said to have interacted regularly with company director Daljit Johal on social media, but denied knowing him.
In August, Ofsted inspectors found that children were “not being protected” at the home. In one instance a vulnerable child had run away, leaving them at risk of being criminally “exploited”.
Councillor Paul Canal, leader of the Redbridge Conservatives, said Athwal’s position as a councillor “has become untenable”.
The Bridge ward councillor told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “The reports in The Londoner along with the unlicensed slum flats scandal, are devastating.
“He should resign immediately. [Prime Minister] Keir Starmer should withdraw the whip.”
A BBC investigation in August revealed that flats in Redbridge, owned by Athwal, were being leased out in squalid condition.
At the time, he said he was “profoundly sorry” and had sacked his letting agent, whose identity has not been disclosed.
A spokesperson for Redbridge Council told The Londoner that “no conflict of interest had occurred” in regards to Athwal’s commercial relationship with Heartwood.
In a statement posted on Monday morning (28 October), the former council leader said: “I wholeheartedly reject any suggestion, as per a media report today, of a conflict of interest in the leasing of a property to Heartwood Care Group which was made entirely on regular commercial terms and declared fully in accordance with council rules.
“As a matter of operational policy, neither councillors, cabinet members, nor council leaders are involved in decisions around the contracting of care home providers or the placement of those in the council’s care.
“There is no suggestion that this policy has been breached and therefore no conflict of interest occurred.”
However, Cllr Canal said an investigation needed to be launched.
He added: “Redbridge Council should appoint an independent investigator to thoroughly review his business dealings and the council’s apparent failure to enforce regulations against its former leader.”
Since the news broke about his mould-infested homes, parliament’s largest landlord has faced repeated calls to resign.
Protests were organised outside the town hall, with dozens gathering to demand the MP stepped aside.
A spokesperson for the newly formed Ilford & Redbridge Independents Party said on Monday: “The Labour councillor and MP is again engulfed by serious allegations of impropriety.
“Yet he remains a councillor as well as MP. This cannot continue. Ilford deserves better.
“If he won’t resign, then Labour must remove the whip.”
A council by-election will be held in Wanstead Park on 14 November, after Labour MP Bayo Alaba stood down as a councillor.
The party is expected to focus resources on the seat in a bid to fend off independents, who made considerable headway in the general election.
Athwal’s majority of 6,896 was considerably lower than his predecessor Sam Tarry’s, who held Ilford South for Labour in 2019 with a majority of 24,101.
Meanwhile, Health Secretary Wes Streeting, the MP for Ilford North, came within 530 votes of losing his seat to independent candidate Leanne Mohamad.
The Labour Party was contacted for comment.
