Samuel Perry Jewellery Limited, which is co-owned by Basildon Reform councillor Sam Journet, has hit back against claims made by Gavin Callaghan, Labour leader of Basildon Council, that bailiffs would be instructed to reclaim unpaid business rates from the company. The claims, posted on the council leader's Facebook, alleged business rates had not been paid since April with the exception of June, in which Mr Journet was campaigning for the St Martin's Ward by-election seat. Gavin Callaghan stated: "This week, Basildon Council will be instructing bailiffs to recover the taxpayers’ money from Samuel Perry Jewellery after this business repeatedly failed to pay its business rates. Samuel Perry have issued a statement raising concerns about the post by the council leader and insisted all of the business rates have been paid properly. "Samuel Perry have paid our business rates in full and in fact are owed £2 in overpayments, which we will be requesting repayment of as unequivocal evidence against these claims.