To think Labour should save their political point scoring re Granffell tower for later on

[angelcakerocks]

I'm actually quite disgusted that Labour are yet again using a tragedy to score political points (as they did with the terrorist incident) so soon after the event.
Yes questions need to be asked, but it seems inappropriate to be doing that right now, when we should all be pulling together and focusing on the victims of this awful accident. There is no need for the political point scoring today.

[Code42]

You're brave to dare to criticise St Jeremy on MN OP

Fwiw, I agree: YANBU - I was reading his comments in the Guardian this morning, and felt that the fact he kept coming back to it, after every sentence about the fire, was very problematic. Absolutely there are questions that will need to be answered (there was someone on R4 later in the day who said that it looks likely that this fire will rewrite procedures, as it didn't progress in the way previous fires have) and absolutely it's unquestionable that an action group at the flats had been raising concerns for a number of years. However, the time for these questions to be raised is not when firefighters are still battling and trying to save lives.

[Haffiana]

Yes, I found that really squirm making. I was embarrassed for JC.

[SoupDragon]

Grenfell

[AuntieStella]

Yes, he started very well, but then went too far. He was wrong on that.

Khan got it right - assurances there will be a thorough investigation and then proper consideration of what is found, holding people rigorously to account wherever necessary.

[FriendPlease]

You're kind of doing the same thing, sounding off against someone else rather than focusing on the tragedy.

[Leanback]

A lot of the residents are saying the same thing though.

IMO you can't not politicise it as it's social housing. This could have been prevented.

[HopefulHamster]

This is a political matter. It's about class. It's about social housing.

[Hassled]

People are politicising the events because there were certainly reports that high rise blocks like Grenfell were a fire risk - reports which were ignored. There's a lot of anger that an amendment to the Housing and Planning Bill forcing landlords to make homes fit for habitation was blocked - 72 of the MPs who voted against the amendment are themselves landlords. So while I do agree that it's way to early to be making assumptions - no one knows how the fire started - I do understand why people are getting het up.

[gillybeanz]

So No comment from Theresa May then?

[youarenotkiddingme]

Fwiw I found it a bit teeth grinding too - and I am a labour and JV fan!

[FinallyThroughTheRoof]

The Tories are about to get back in and firm government

And should be stopped. Especially now. Before they fuck up the country even more.

So YABU. There isnt time to wait. They are accountable.

[paxillin]

Seeing that the residents are saying the same, YABU. Save your disgust for those responsible, not for those pointing it out.

[shinyredbus]

Oh wow OP - youre brave I'll give you that! Put your hard hat on and prepare for a battering - not many people on here support anything but St JC .

Fwiw - I agree with you btw - I have just had to post something on FB about how we should all just focus on the tragedy at hand, not the politics which have NOTHING to do with it. I've had so many people have something to say about how this is TMs fault

[Highalert]

I would imagine that the people involved in the tragedy would want questions to be asked, right now.

[FinallyThroughTheRoof]

Theres none so blind.

[stella23]

It it is political, this about how poor people are treated very differently to people with money.
This Is about social housing, how it can be substandard and how there is not enough of it.

[Highalert]

And all the Tories on here are using it to slag off JC.

Take a look at yourselves.

[witsender]

Tbh, he just seems to be the public voice of what the residents have been trying to have heard for a long time.

[NannyOggsKnickers]

The reason he has commented is a Labour counsellor, who is on the housing board for that block, has brought up 19 seperate concerns from residents about the lack of a third party fire safety check. But she was shouted down by others on the board. This is obviously a long running political dispute before this tragedy. Local residents who have been interviewed have made it clear where they think the fault lies.

[SkafaceClaw]

How can it not be political? Council Housing was sold out and is maintained by private companies.

If they were under the care of local councils there would be far more regulation and scrutiny.

KCTMO have a lot of questions to answer.

It is an issue of class. I live in a shared ownership property - my HA treat tenants with complete contempt. At our last fire safety meeting there was eye rolling and tutting rather than listening to the views of residents. Appalling through and through.

Thinking of all those affected.

[stitchglitched]

It is a political issue. The residents of this block have been raising concerns and been ignored. Who are you to tell those giving them a voice that 'now isn't the time?' Sounds like you're trying to do a bit of point scoring yourself.

[NannyOggsKnickers]

There has been some ongoing suspicion that fire breaks that were removed during the refurbishment and not properly replaced. Residents had already complained numerous times and asked for a third party inspection.

[angelcakerocks]

FWIW I'm no Tory and I'm not saying it's not a political issue in the long term of course, but not now.
But I agree Sadiq Khan handled it properly and respectfully.

Anyway I regret starting the thread if it seems I'm actually perpetuating focussing on the politics rather than the tragic issue so apologies.

[Tannyfastic]

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/jun/14/review-of-fire-safety-rules-pledged-by-minister-last-year-yet-to-be-published?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

[Highalert]

It's an issue right now. There are a lot of angry people who want answers and someone to stand up for them.