Breaking news Diss hotel refuses to take single men boat people

growstuff

Asylum seekers had a lucky escape not being accommodated in a hotel owned by John Mappin.

Incidentally, I've read about his claims. Does anybody have any evidence?

I have no evidence, but having a house not too far way, (these hotels seem to follow me around!), I remember it was reported in the local news that it was a telephone call from a company (??) to this man's secretary (???) So, apparently no, no formal request from The Home Office.

Message withdrawn as it quotes a deleted post.

StripeyGran

I suppose one can be concerned about large numbers of young men hanging about and still have the wit to think?

The hotel in Diss was being quietly used by families seeking asylum, children were happy at school, all was well. Then it seems the demographic was about to be changed.

I'm glad you wrote that StripeyGran because Luke Sharman, who claims to have worked at the hotel when it only housed families (as it still does), was one of the speakers at Epping and said ‘Paedos and rapists, every single one of them. I don’t give a shit if they’re not, they all come from the same, they’re all the same. It’s as simple as that.’ There's video evidence, so he can't deny it.

When he worked at the hotel, it only housed families with children. As you say, it was "being used quietly", so it seems Mr Sharman might not be entirely truthful. Not only that, but he admits he doesn't care if he's labelling innocent people. In other words, he's a racist.

PS. I have every sympathy with the hotelier objecting to the change of use from families to single men. For the sake of community cohesion, I hope the Home Office doesn't go ahead with the plan.

escaped

growstuff

Asylum seekers had a lucky escape not being accommodated in a hotel owned by John Mappin.

Incidentally, I've read about his claims. Does anybody have any evidence?

I have no evidence, but having a house not too far way, (these hotels seem to follow me around!), I remember it was reported in the local news that it was a telephone call from a company (??) to this man's secretary (???) So, apparently no, no formal request from The Home Office.

What Mappin actually said in his original interview was that he'd heard of other hoteliers being offered vast sums of money to take asylum seekers. He never claimed that any offer was made to him, but his words have been twisted.

growstuff

Even in the GB News interview he gave, Mappin did not claim that the Home Office had approached him specifically.

And he can make all sorts of claims because I assume the Home Office can't speak about it anyway. Interesting that he didn't specifically say that he had been approached. And I see the interview was on GB News [now it makes sense...].

MayBee70

growstuff

Even in the GB News interview he gave, Mappin did not claim that the Home Office had approached him specifically.

And he can make all sorts of claims because I assume the Home Office can't speak about it anyway. Interesting that he didn't specifically say that he had been approached. And I see the interview was on GB News [now it makes sense...].

It's like Chinese Whispers. It doesn't take much to change an original story and then it goes viral and people pass it on as though it's the truth. The originator then shrugs his shoulders and claims he never said that (he's right, of course - he didn't).

woodenspoon

No Primrose but they should. Lead by example. Put the packing cases in the garage. Put the grandkids in tents in the garden. Convert the loft for a few more migrant beds. Only then should they be spouting off about refugees being welcome. Put their money where their mouths are for once.

So if I have strong feelings about say.....animal welfare, I must fill my space with kittens?

Think. It is actually possible to maintain 2 or 3 ideas concurrently.

John Mappins interview.

www.youtube.com/shorts/wyEAFxOEPu4

growstuff

MayBee70

growstuff

Even in the GB News interview he gave, Mappin did not claim that the Home Office had approached him specifically.

And he can make all sorts of claims because I assume the Home Office can't speak about it anyway. Interesting that he didn't specifically say that he had been approached. And I see the interview was on GB News [now it makes sense...].

It's like Chinese Whispers. It doesn't take much to change an original story and then it goes viral and people pass it on as though it's the truth. The originator then shrugs his shoulders and claims he never said that (he's right, of course - he didn't).

He's a bit muddled for sure because this is what he told Cornwall Live.
I heard from my receptionist that there was this company that wanted to hire the whole hotel for 12 months, every single room booked and it’s not very often that you get a phone call like that, so I called the company myself and yes in fact that is what it was, it was a company trying to source hotels for the asylum seekers or the refugees that are coming in on the boats or by various different means.

I wonder if the company was Serco.

So the Government contracts out their unpopular work so others get the blame?

Allira

So the Government contracts out their unpopular work so others get the blame?

The government contracts out and Serco makes billions and billions.

Misery pays.

Did he say when this offer was made?

StripeyGran

Allira

So the Government contracts out their unpopular work so others get the blame?

The government contracts out and Serco makes billions and billions.

Misery pays.

£150 million profit actually,
No need for exaggeration to make a point.

The Serco contract with the Home Office started in 2019, along with two other providers.

www.gov.uk/government/news/new-asylum-accommodation-contracts-awarded#:~:text=The%20contracts%20also%20require%20accommodation,to%20ensure%20a%20smooth%20transition.

Serco makes

Making means profits, not what a firm is paid.

Allira

^Serco makes^

Making means profits, not what a firm is paid.

You're right Allira. Apparently, the Serco contracts are for ten years and worth £4 billion, but I have no idea how much of that is profit.

The problem with outsourcing is that it's introducing a profit-making organisation into the system. I think the jury is out about whether these companies are more cost-effective than using public servants. They certainly pay their staff less than public service does, although their supporters will say they're "leaner".

To me, the issue is that they're not part of any democratic process. The Home Office says it has a problem; 90,000 asylum seekers and it doesn't know what to do with them. It offloads the problem to Serco (and others) and gives them a free rein to solve the problem. Serco looks for the cheapest option (as it should), but it doesn't take stake-holders, such as local residents, into account. Somebody sits in an office and thinks "Oh, we have 100 homeless asylum seekers" and somebody else says they know of a run-down hotel, where the owner would be delighted to accept a guaranteed lump sum. Hey, bingo! Nobody actually thinks about whether it would be a good idea to plonk 100 single men in the middle of nowhere with no infrastructure or extra resources. Nobody speaks to the residents and makes some guarantees about the behaviour of the asylum seekers.

I would imagine what happened in Tintagel is that some Clearsprings Ready Homes (who have the contract for the Cornwall area - not Serco) were told they have to find accommodation for X number of asylum seekers. They got some underling to ring round the hotels on the list to sound them out. This person needed to sell the idea, so mentioned that there would be a guaranteed income for twelve months. Some hoteliers are struggling at the moment, so they'd jump at the chance. Why wouldn't they? It would mean they wouldn't have to upgrade their facilities if they were run-down and there would be easy money. Easy win!

The Camelot Hotel in Tintagel only has 3.5 stars, so doesn't count as a luxury hotel. It has mixed reviews on Trip Advisor, so the employee might have thought the owner would be interested in the scheme. In any case, there was no pressure for him to accept any contract. Given Mr Mappin's ideological beliefs, accepting asylum seekers would have been a very bad business decision. It would probably have killed the whole business.

The problem with outsourcing is that it's introducing a profit-making organisation into the system. I think the jury is out about whether these companies are more cost-effective than using public servants.

Or more efficient.

I agree, growstuff.

Tintagel seems to be a strange choice for asylum seekers to be located.

This is Clearsprings Ready Homes' Wiki entry:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clearsprings_Ready_Homes

Allira

^The problem with outsourcing is that it's introducing a profit-making organisation into the system. I think the jury is out about whether these companies are more cost-effective than using public servants.^

Or more efficient.

I agree, growstuff.

Tintagel seems to be a strange choice for asylum seekers to be located.

I don't suppose the underling who made the phone call even knew where Tintagel is.

King Arfur's birthplace, innit!!

I spent one summer working there at Terry Dangers fish and chip shop. in a garden shed. I had a bed, a baby belling cooker and a wardrobe a bedside table copy of Lord of the Rings. Always thought the hotel was a bit of an eyesore.

I watched this some time ago.
Different subject,I know but it shows how bad, and dangerous SERCO are.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mcMlQqQUKw

I am so sorry Mt61 for calling you a know it all. In trying to read many pages at great speed whilst eating toast in bed I have mixed up what I am reading and replying to.

Allira

King Arfur's birthplace, innit!!

This is true.
Many years ago we were at Tintagel.
A large group of American tourists turned up. One of them asked me where the elevator was.