Fire engulfs Grenfell tower block in west London

Kensington council seems to have a near-genius for doing exactly the wrong thing. IMO, they would have been better advised to leave the meeting open, and if it turned into a shouting match - well, the cameras can record that, too.

London fire: Council leader quits amid criticism of response.

LONDON (AP) — The head of the local authority responsible for a London tower block ravaged by fire this month resigned Friday, as pressure increased for more accountability in the disaster that killed at least 80 people.

Nicholas Paget-Brown, who had previously resisted calls to quit as leader of Kensington and Chelsea Council in the two weeks since the blaze, stepped aside Friday after being rebuked for abandoning a meeting on the high-rise fire because journalists were present.

Theresa May's Downing Street office criticized the Conservative-controlled borough council for aborting its first council Cabinet meeting since the June 14 Grenfell Tower tragedy. Paget-Brown initially sought to bar journalists from the meeting, then scrapped the session after media organizations won an injunction allowing reporters to be present. Paget-Brown said that the presence of the media would "prejudice" a public inquiry into the disaster planned by the central government.

Opposition Labour Party Councilor Robert Atkinson, whose ward includes Grenfell Tower, challenged Paget-Brown loudly, yelling: "An absolute fiasco, this is why I am calling for your resignation." Citing a court ruling that journalists must be allowed to attend, May's office pointed out that it was vital for people to retain confidence in democratic systems. More at link.

https://www.mail.com/int/news/uk/5322484-london-fire-council-leader-quits-amid-criticism-re.html#.1258-stage-hero1-3

I won't be surprised if the Tories decide to let Paget-Brown take the blame for their part in this disaster, as he seems to be both incompetent and arrogant, always a fatal combination.

Grenfell inquiry could be 'too narrow', Jeremy Corbyn warns.

Labour leader writes to Theresa May after new inquiry chair says it will be limited to cause of fire and why it spread so quickly.

Jeremy Corbyn expressed concern that the Grenfell Tower inquiry could have too narrow a remit after comments from the newly appointed chair suggested it would be limited to the cause of the fire and why it spread so quickly.

The leader of the Labour party wrote to the prime minister on Friday, saying that the terms of the inquiry should be broad because the deadly fire had “much wider implications for national policy issues”.

“It is vital that the voice of Grenfell residents and victims’ families are heard throughout the process and that they have full confidence,” he said. He called for a “two-part inquiry, with the first part looking at the specific issues around Grenfell and reporting back quickly, and the second part looking at the national issues”.

On Thursday, the head of the inquiry, Sir Martin Moore-Bick, alarmed residents and survivors by saying that the basis of the inquiry “would be pretty well limited to the problems surrounding the start of the fire and its rapid development, in order to make recommendations as to how this sort of thing can be prevented in the future”.

But lawyers with experience of public inquiries said they believed that Moore-Bick would probably change his stance. Survivors would be “incredibly upset” if the inquiry was limited to how the fire started and spread so fast, he said. “The inquiry has got to look at how [the regulatory] regime developed, or I think the residents would feel they were let down. And I think that’s an absolutely legitimate concern on their part.”

But the judge must be “given a chance”, he added. “One should not be too censorious about how he was at this first meeting of a type that he’d never done before. My own experience of him is that he’s an incredibly impressive, insightful and emotionally intelligent individual and he will do an extremely good job.”

Jamal Williams, who lives adjacent to Grenfell Tower, met Moore-Bick in a separate meeting from survivors. The meeting had left residents feeling that the consultation was a sham, he said. “It wasn’t a consultation, it was someone sent to tell us ‘this is what I’m doing and this is what is going to happen’. He was very frank. That’s not a consultation, that’s someone giving a message.”

Pete Weatherby QC, who acted for 22 families throughout the Hillsborough inquests, said there was “absolutely no reason at all” why a public inquiry could not have a much wider scope. Moore-Bick’s initial comments gave “a terrible message”, he added.

“It gives the message that there’s already thought been given to limiting the scope so that embarrassing policy questions that affect government and local government, such as privatisation and cuts, [are] pushed out,” he said. “That is very, very regrettable, particularly at this stage.”

A spokesman for the Grenfell Tower inquiry said Moore-Bick had started discussions with survivors and victims’ families, which would continue. “He will be consulting them further, together with other interested parties, on the terms of reference for the inquiry. He will then suggest to the prime minister what those terms of reference should be.” Moore-Bick is expected to report to parliament before the beginning of recess on 20 July.

Earlier this week Theresa May also informed ministers there could be a “major national investigation” into the issue of sub-standard cladding being used on buildings over decades, which could form a second element to the public inquiry along the lines suggested by Corbyn.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/jun/30/grenfell-inquiry-could-be-too-narrow-jeremy-corbyn-warns

The leader of the Labour party wrote to the prime minister on Friday, saying that the terms of the inquiry should be broad because the deadly fire had “much wider implications for national policy issues”.

Given that I don't actually believe Corbyn gives a toss, he's just using these poor people - is he going to throw older, Blairite Labour people under the bus, as Labour is also involved in this shambles?

.... is he going to throw older, Blairite Labour people under the bus, as Labour is also involved in this shambles?

I reckon he's gonna scalp anyone he hates, blames Laborites who supported Blait/New Labor for all and anything he can. LL

I just came across this link, LL - it's a quote from BBC's Moral Maze:


http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08v8dxt

(snipped)

A sprinkler system for Grenfell tower would have cost around £200,000. Were those in Grenfell tower victims of the dogma of the free market - to which New Labour signed up along with the Conservative party - that has destroyed our sense of social obligation and the common good?

There it is - Corbyn will throw mud at the Blairites as well as the Tories.

Poor Tony Blair. He hasn't had much luck for quite some considerable time. Infamy, Infamy, etcetera.

Couldn't happen to a nicer sleazebag.

Oh, and I also blame Blair for this wave of emotional incontinence that has taken over from reason in some of the British public, ever since he christened Di the 'people's princess'.

Grenfell Tower fire: Council suspends rent for neighbouring flats.

Residents forced to leave homes next to London's Grenfell Tower because of a lack of utilities have had their rent suspended, the area's council has said.

Kensington and Chelsea council said payments would not be requested for properties in the so-called finger blocks until at least January 2018.

The buildings have been without hot water since the neighbourhood's boiler was destroyed in the fire on 14 June.

Any rent deducted since the blaze will be refunded, a council spokesman said.

It comes after a victims' group said one resident had had rent deducted from their bank account since the fire, which is believed to have killed at least 80 people.

The west London council has been heavily criticised for its response to the disaster, leading this week to the resignation of its leader Nicholas Paget-Brown and his deputy, Rock Feilding-Mellen.

A Kensington and Chelsea council spokesman said: "We are focused on the needs of all affected residents, including those from Barandon Walk, Testerton Walk and Hurstway [the finger blocks].

"This group of residents have suffered a huge disruption to their lives as they were evacuated from their homes."

The spokesman added that the council expected to have the hot water supply restored in the next week.

He said some residents had gone back to their homes, but the council would continue to provide temporary accommodation for those who did not want to return.

On Saturday the government said it would keep "a close eye" on Kensington and Chelsea council after London Mayor Sadiq Khan called for commissioners to take over running it.

Communities Secretary Sajid Javid said the process to select a successor to Mr Paget-Brown would be "independent of government", but added: "If we need to take further action, we won't hesitate to do so."

The council is due to elect a leader next week. More at link.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-40471554

It comes after a victims' group said one resident had had rent deducted from their bank account since the fire, which is believed to have killed at least 80 people.

In this case, it really is making a mountain out of a molehill. The resident simply forgot to cancel his/her direct debit, not surprisingly under the circumstances.

Grenfell's youngest victim: IT manager and his wife who escaped the inferno from their 21st-floor flat with their two young daughters lose unborn baby.

A heroic husband who saved his family from the 21st floor of Grenfell Tower has suffered new heartache after his wife lost their unborn baby boy.

IT manager Marcio Gomes gave doctors the go-ahead to deliver his wife Andreia's baby on the night the doomed high-rise in London went up in flames.

The baby's heart had stopped beating after Mrs Gomes had fallen into a coma after inhaling the thick, toxic smoke inside the flats as the fire raged.

Faced with the possibility of an infection spreading through his unconscious wife's body, Mr Gomes made the gut-wrenching call and the boy was delivered stillborn.

Hours earlier, he had wrapped her and their two girls Luana and Megan in wet towels and led them through the raging inferno to safety.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4658418/Grenfell-s-youngest-victim-Couple-lose-unborn-baby.html#ixzz4lfR9zOvM
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

Grenfell Tower survivors threaten to boycott inquiry into the disaster unless probe is widened.

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/grenfell-tower-survivors-threaten-boycott-072100720.html

So many tragic stories.....

I hope the victims and survivors don't get overwhelmed and overlooked by the endless political shouting and point-scoring.

http://news.sky.com/story/grenfell-tower-illegal-subletting-amnesty-announced-by-sajid-javid-10934448

Grenfell Tower residents who were illegally subletting will not face prosecution, Communities Secretary Sajid Javid has said.

The Cabinet Minister said the move was guided by a concern that "loved ones still missing are identified".

The protection from prosecution applies to anyone coming to authorities with information about people who were in their flats at the time of the fire.

Anecdotal evidence from residents has indicated that people living in the tower block may have been unlawfully subletting their properties, and that they are reluctant to come forward and report others are missing because of the fear of reprisal.

Director of Public Prosecutions Alison Saunders said: "It is a priority for investigators to establish who was in Grenfell Tower on that tragic day and it is crucial that we do everything possible to support them."

Guidance issued by the Director of Public Prosecutions said that tenants of Grenfell Tower who were subletting their properties and who "come forward to authorities" to share information "should not face prosecution for offences under section one of the Prevention of Social Housing Fraud Act 2013"....etc

that is what I don´t understand: Grenfell Tower survivors wants a inquiry about the tragedy, but, now they threaten to boycott inquiry into the disaster unless probe is widened. when an inquiry happens, the purpose is to go to the bottom of the issue.

They want someone to blame, Pedro, anyone. They also don't like the fact that some rather unpleasant things about the tenants are already coming out.

There is NO doubt that shoddy cladding turned a kitchen fire into a catastrophe and that the gas supply was dangerous.

However - they're all shouting about the death toll and 'wanting answers'.

How, pray tell, are the police supposed to know that, when its just come out that many of the tenants were illegally sub-letting? Those tenants weren't just stealing from taxpayers, as many of the rents were being paid from housing benefits - hundreds of pounds a week.

They are also DIRECTLY responsible for many of the deaths, as the illegal occupants crammed into those flats simply shouldn't have been in the building - and probably not even in the country.

And look at this:

Landlords get £250 a day to house Grenfell victims: Estate agents told to offer deals at five times the market value because of a lack of properties
The Grenfell Response Team is under pressure to find nearby properties
But a lack of housing has forced officials to drastically inflate rent prices
It means landlords could makeup to £1,400 more than the typical rental incomes


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4659866/Landlords-250-day-house-Grenfell-victims.html#ixzz4lkwNZwfD
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

I couldn't afford to live in Kensington; it's one of the most expensive places in the UK. But it would never occur to me to demand to be allowed to live there at taxpayers' expense.

The survivors' groups need to be careful here, as public sympathy can melt away as quickly as it came.

Oh, and I hope the latest bunch of landlords aren't sub-letting.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-40486532


Meanwhile, some of the survivors have written a letter to the prime minister with 12 demands for changes in the way the disaster is being handled.

These include:

Withdraw the appointment of Sir Martin Moore-Bick as chairman of the inquiry

Explain what consultation will take place before the inquiry's terms of reference are finalised

Guarantee that the inquiry chair will adopt wide terms of reference that goes beyond the narrow one outlined by his recent statement

Ensure the government co-ordinated response team is available 24 hours a day

Confirm that undocumented survivors will be given full UK citizenship

Confirm that undocumented survivors will be given full UK citizenship

They're not 'undocumented survivors', they're illegal immigrants, and if they hadn't been in the country illegally and sub-letting illegally, they wouldn't have been in Grenfell in the first place.

A perfect example of how to lose public sympathy.

Grenfell victims' anger as Government housing deadline passes.

Three weeks on from the Grenfell Tower fire and hundreds of residents are still living in emergency accommodation after refusing offers of temporary housing.

The authority responsible for managing the relief operation, the Grenfell Response Team, has confirmed 139 offers of housing have been made but only nine have been accepted.

There are 19 families who asked not to be contacted, some are too traumatised or are out of the country.

Prime Minister Theresa May promised to offer good quality temporary accommodation to all those displaced within three weeks, a deadline which runs out on Wednesday, and a target the Government says has been met.

Those on the ground in North Kensington paint a different story.

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/hundreds-grenfell-victims-still-not-housed-despite-government-223200695.html

.... currently living in their second hotel, after refusing two offers of temporary accommodation because it was too far out of the borough or simply not suitable.

"We want a place we can call home. There is no point in the Prime Minister making promises, it needs to be realistic and sincere. We feel like we've been taken for a ride."

Read the comments ....   LL

Gawd. And I thought I was getting annoyed...

You know, local families who were flooded out of their homes in Cumbria TWO TEARS AGO are still in temporary accomodation - where are their hot and cold running social workers? Of course, they aren't illegal immigrants.

If the Grenfell activists are so keen on 'answers' then I suggest the rescue services give them helmets and lower them into the top floors of the block, and tell them to go and search for 'answers' themselves instead of wanting firefighters and police to risk their lives.

And someone needs to point out to them that no-one is entitled to live in Kensington at taxpayers' expense, least of all people who shouldn't be in the country in the first place.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/07/04/justice4grenfell-agitators-campaign-group-tries-push-tower-enquiry/


The Justice4Grenfell agitators: campaign group tries to push Tower inquiry judge to resign

Quote:

The group was set up by local campaigners, including a veteran activist Ismahil Blagrove who called for a revolution in the wake of the fire and Sue Caro, a former BBC diversity manager and a staunch Corbyn supporter, who posted on Twitter that Adolf Hitler was “inspired by US racist laws”, which explains America’s ‘guilty conscience and support for Israel”.

None of the Justice4Grenfell’s key organisers was a resident in the high rise building in which at least 80 people perished although the group is keen to stress it is an umbrella organisation with widespread backing in the community.


Yes, I am sure a highly-paid (by the public) BBC diversity manager is a real expert on the thermo-dynamics of fires.

Oddly, I didn't see anyone complaining about the skin colour of the firefighters and police who risked their own lives to rescue so many people....

As you know I am a suspicius old codger and to me this smacks very much of 'outside interference' - let me consult my inner self - ah, I see a red background with a symbol, damn, can't quite decipher what it is ....  summat about a beard as well. LL

I think the word you are looking for is 'Corbyn', LL.

Problem is, outside their own little London socialist bubble, there is real resentment building up towards these 'activists', and the danger is that survivors are being exploited by them, and damaged by them and their endless demands.

No names, no packdrill, but that name has a familiar ring - any truth that his middle name is MAO - he does, after all have a Red Book he waves about. LL