The Labour party will, one suspects, curse the name of Epping for some time. The uncomfortable fact is that it stood to lose big-time whatever the result of today’s hearing in the High Court.

Following the refusal by Mr Justice Mould to order the owner of the Bell Hotel to cease using it as a migrant hostel, social media is awash with condemnation. As a result of its having made common cause with the hotel owner’s claim to carry on using the premises, Labour is being now being pilloried as soft on illegal immigration and unsound on the rule of law. At the same time, by making clear its opposition to the court order sought by Epping Forest Council it has cemented its reputation as the party of self-satisfied metropolitan snobs which holds in contempt the views of elected local authorities

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