CROWDS going into KENSINGTON TOWN HALL ..... BBC NEWS now

[RTKangaMummy]

They were outside but now the crowds have all entered the civic centre town hall

I am not surprised that this is happening

I'm not sure what they expect the Council to do at 5 to 5 on a Friday afternoon..... they can't just magic up answers or new houses.

Understand their distress and anger but mob rule is never the answer. Must be terrifying for the Council workers inside.

this fire could well turn out to be a literal and metaphorical flash point

Not as terrifying as being trapped in a burning building though.

They can't have the "answers" they are demanding because the situation is unclear and we haven't even established what the questions are yet....

So shut up and put up then. Fuck that.

but this is a bigger issue than 'rich people can't be bothered to care about poor people.

So tell me, why was it that this happened in a council tower and not in a nice fancy private one where the rents are £2k a month?

I wonder why that could possibly be. I WONDER.

I'm not sure what they expect the Council to do at 5 to 5 on a Friday afternoon

That has got to be one of the most inane things I have read in the 14 years I've been on MN.

It's not a fucking dispute over the bins.

One of the richest boroughs in the country. Yet they can't rehouse them

destitute and surrounded by billionaires
homeless and surrounded by empty flats bought up by overseas investors to park their money

It's easy to be calm and rational when you're not in that situation. Easy to urge patience from behind a keyboard. Easy to be 'neutral'. No one wants riots, not least because riots mean people suffer and also because it gives the powerful a chance to dismiss the anger as criminality, but it's not stirring the pot to say you can see how they might emerge from a situation like this. When people have next to nothing and are feeling powerless and ignored and as if their very lives are worth less because they are poor, what are they expected to do? Sign a petition?

Wouldn't it be better if the people who've lost their homes were the ones to go to Kensington Town Hall, not just random crowds of people who have homes to go to? Why are they there, taking up room that's needed, attention that's needed on the people who have no homes, nothing.

I don't know what's wrong with some people. It's a full scale tragedy, there are urgent practical issues to resolve for the survivors and the time for public action is in the future, not now. Urgh.

Their anger is totally justified. I feel outraged on their behalf.

Where are the council, The KCTMO, what action have they taken? I've not heard a thing from them - just a few patronising statements. The voluntary response has been amazing - but the council need to be stepping in now - they need to be talking to these people.

I've been saying to DH that there will be riots over this tragedy.

I don't condone the possibility, but I understand the feelings behind it.

There is so much we don't know and might not know for a long time.
Going through tragedy doesn't excuse breaking the law.

Actually, this is exactly the time for public action.

If anything this tragedy has shown the sense of community between the have nots etc.

And that community is furious.

What do you expect them to do? Sit quietly and nicely while they get no information, no help from officials, wait for an investigation that will be dragged out for years...

I imagine many of them are thinking 'Fuck that.'

The time for action is right now. The community is showing support to their neighbours.

Is it upsetting your nice cosy life to see real people who are fucking angry trying to have a voice?

I can't see anything about this on BBC or ITN News.

It's on bbc news right now missing

Ah, spotted it now, below the bit about the Queen, sorry.

There seems to be a deal of stirring things up by celebs and the media, but if I was in the position of those who have been bereaved and/or made homeless I would probably be grateful for being able to do something/anything instead of feeling helpless.

Wouldn't it be better if the people who've lost their homes were the ones to go to Kensington Town Hall, not just random crowds of people who have homes to go to? Why are they there, taking up room that's needed, attention that's needed on the people who have no homes, nothing.

Definitely - there will be community leaders or spokespeople who are speaking to the Council who will be doing what they can... sending in rent a mob isn't going to help.

Look, we all understand how awful this is. People aren't at the Council asking about practicalities about housing and money, it's about "justice" and "answers". It's FAR too early for that. The fire brigade haven't even cleared the building yet. There is a process that has to be completed and the Council just can't give answers at this stage.

All these calls to make sure it can't happen again - absolutely. But you need to know what has caused the fire first.... and that can't be done.

People are making this into a much bigger class struggle, rich vs poor thing and people like Lily Allen are not helping to calm the situation.

I'm watching it on BBC news right now.

I'm not sure what they expect the Council to do at 5 to 5 on a Friday afternoon.....

I swear I almost laughed at this.

As a PP said, it's not a dispute over the bins.

It's a bit like having a baby, or when a fire breaks out - certain jobs just won't wait until the next working day