AN MP has blasted a hotel chain after it refused to house rough sleepers.

Management at Jurys Inn Brighton originally approached Brighton and Hove City Council offering to accommodate the city’s most vulnerable people.

But after council officers were told to speak to the chain’s national management, they were told the Jurys Inn would not help.

Brighton Kemptown MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle branded the chain “disgraceful” and suggested the hotel should be seized if necessary.

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“Obviously they decided it wasn’t worth their while,” the Labour MP said.

“The council was still offering payment and it seems the local manager was happy to agree a deal but the national management said ‘don’t do it’.

“I think that’s wrong because they’re still getting the Government furlough grant for shutting down.

“They could just furlough some of their staff. Clearly the furlough rules need to be changed to allow short-term working.

“Other hotels have stepped up to the mark and are offering their beds.

“I think it’s rather disgraceful that Jurys Inn is not being flexible about it.

“No one wants this to be a forced thing but it may come to that.”

Mr Russell-Moyle said the hotel could have been used for key workers to sleep in if they needed to live apart from vulnerable family members.

“Those beds could have been used for nurses who live with someone who is vulnerable and have to move away,” he said.

“ Think about the Martlets [hospice] workers who could have used that.

“Now the hotel stands empty when we need it.”

About 60 rough sleepers still have not been housed by the city council as it scrambles to sort rooms.

On Tuesday it secured a 51-room deal with the YHA hostel in Old Steine.

A Brighton and Hove City Council spokeswoman said it was now focused on finding more rooms for vulnerable people.

“The local management team at Jurys Inn approached the council to see if they could help to accommodate our most vulnerable residents during this crisis,” she said.

“We were very encouraged by their response when they heard our very specific requirements.

“Local management told us because of our complex needs our discussion needed to be escalated to national management.

“We were then informed the Jurys Inn hotel could no longer support us.

Jurys Inn did not respond for comment when contacted by The Argus.

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