Britain left 'somber' by high-rise inferno, says queen

Theresa May has flaws, but presents dignity and calm self-restraint in the face of an unscrupulous cynicaly motived politicking lynch mob mentality, unwilling to wait for the announced judge-led inquiry.

This is blatant political incitement to violence. There is no appeal for calm, there is no respect for the loss to the families of the bereaved. Just a calls for revenge, to march and if necessary riot. The tone is class war.

What in fact stinks to high heaven, is the festering malice, bitterness and antagonism deeply ingrained in Jeremy Corbyn's agenda of division through promoting a tale of two cities resentment. To ignite the vision of social injustice. To present and project this mission as a means to invoke dissension.

Another speaker told the crowd they had to keep fighting for justice. “We didn't just sit down and shut up—we’re going to do something about it”.   

Rage bursts onto London streets after Grenfell Tower fire

Grenfell was a crime against the working class, a murder. There must be arrests, trials and jailings for the politicians and bosses responsible. The whole working class movement must demand justice for Grenfell—and organise to drive May out.

https://socialistworker.co.uk/art/44819/Rage+bursts+onto+London+streets+after+Grenfell+Tower+fire

Trying to turn Grenfell Tower into a morality tale about the rich and poor stinks.....

Who would want to be a political leader in the wake of a disaster such as that of Grenfell Tower? If you show up and hug the victims you run the risk of being accused of opportunism and obstructing the emergency services in their work; if you stay away from the site you will be accused of callousness – even if you are spending your time working on the practical issues relating to the event.......

https://blogs.spectator.co.uk/2017/06/trying-turn-grenfell-tower-morality-tale-rich-poor-stinks/#

@itsonly

Agree with you 100% that Theresa May shouldn't be personally blamed for what happened. But the anger is genuine and there is a real class war now. It's still a "cold" war, but may well heat up.

Revolutions aren't just a quaint bit of history, unimaginable these days. The Tories need to start governing for everybody, not just for the sake of businesses.

Hi Lucabrasi, I believe the persistent social injustices that remain hardwired within local communities up and down the country and throughout society in general need to be urgently addressed.  

The tragic unimaginable loss these families have endured has to be addressed transparently, and if necessary, televised, so the people can fell that elected government can be seen leaving no stone unturned to tackle the causes of this appalling tragedy.

To allow political agendas to hijack or interfere with the judge led inquire will be a scandalous outrage, exploiting grievance through the victims grief. The allegations of gross negligence through criminal incompetence would be smothered and lost in the chaos and anarchy.

Grenfell community fear 'Day of Rage' protest could descend into riots as organisers threaten 'class war'....

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/06/17/grenfell-community-fear-day-rage-protest-could-descend-riots/

Leadership sometime needs that stiff upper lip, it won't win voter, you will be very unpopular, however at the same time announcing a judge led public inquiry was the correct course of action. Mrs May lacks empathy yes, but I do believe Mrs May cares, if the media and probably millions don't

You treat people badly and then you're surprised when said people react?

Lives have been lost, a community destroyed and profit over safety, greed over conscience.

I'm just surprised its taken this tragedy for the world to take notice of Britiain's shameful social housing record,

@itsonly

You're dead right that we need to see some major social changes, and that a tragedy like this is completely the wrong occasion to point this out.

I wish I could agree that May cares: I'd really like to believe it. But she's a Tory MP, and those folk have a pretty poor track record....

MMay was hopeless at responding to this, you'd have to try hard to make a bigger PR disaster not meeting the surviving victims.

CCorbyn on the other hand has milked this for every political penny. It's been sickening to watch.

BBritain is devoid of leadership. By its' own hand about to become once more the sick man of Europe.

Hi, lucabrasi zichi,

Little doubt London has many examples of extreme housing inequality. An example is my parents first step on the housing ladder a two bedroom flat in central London, at a price going back to the time before platform shoes and flares wide enough to curtain  the lounge/dining room located off Charing Cross Road and Shaftsbury Avenue then in a need of renovation. Recently a similar flat in the same building sold in excess of £2 million. The right to buy scheme finished off the whole concept of social housing, these 1970 towers are the last remaining legacy. These fatalities must not fall between politicians ability to duplicitously pass the buck. Kensington and Chelsea council have a duty of care that must not be watered down or allowed to be the subject of a whitewash.  

It never occurred to either Theresa May or Jeremy Corbyn to set aside their political differences and visit the families together and form a unified response, a promise that the investigation, a wide ranging actionable cross party, thorough forensic inquiry, with severe consequences for criminal culpability. i.e. long prison sentences if deemed necessary.                        

As a matter of interest, where does the UK rank on the take up of social housing and benefit as a EU member state?....Not quite up to date but an insight as to why 3.5 to 4 million EU citizens choose to make their home in the UK and raise a family.......Certainly this Government could do allot better, it is not third world by any stretch of the imagination.  

Social dimension of intra-EU mobility: Impact on public services....

https://www.eurofound.europa.eu/publications/report/2015/labour-market-social-policies/social-dimension-of-intra-eu-mobility-impact-on-public-services.

I have a number of relatives in the UK that are incapable of public displays of emotion, or can openly show compassion. It is also obligatory to remain straight and upright in the face of adversity. I am sorry to sayTheresa May public persona fits this to a 'T',

I know this tower housed almost exclusively the poor, often those with refugee status, but see below in the cost of living in that tower privately - not cheap at all :

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/property-59885887.html

2 Bed Flat, Grenfell Tower, W11. This 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom Flat is available to move in from 06 May, 2017. The rent is £1,711.67 per month (£395.00 per week). Property comes furnished

Thank for the link Ah_so,

I am assuming then that a umber of these flats must have been acquired under the right to buy.....

Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea has more than enough to cover all eventual liabilities to house and meet all associated costs. There is a trail of paper that will lead to complicit health and safety implications and liability. The board of the Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation along with the Council signed off decision to clad Grenfell Tower.

The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Draft Statement of Accounts 2016 2017...

https://www.rbkc.gov.uk/sites/default/files/atoms/files/Draft%20Statement%20of%20Accounts%202016-17_.pdf

@zichi,

The link below has data on housing by tenure in England up to 2014. The 2014 figures show 1,669,000 rented from local authorities and 2,343,000 rented from housing associations. (The link is it to Shelter, a campaigning charity, so you might want to treat the numbers carefully. But they seem to line up with other available figures. )

http://england.shelter.org.uk/campaigns_/why_we_campaign/housing_facts_and_figures/subsection?section=housing_supply

To either tax or requisition empty properties would be thwart with a whole range of litigation, where seizure is concerned priority acquiring land through a compulsory purchase order, and taxing overseas property would not be feasible or cost effective to re-house short term displaced people.

There is no legislative route to compel owners to rent or let their property if empty. Ultimately another legal minefield is responsibility for maintenance and repair in the event of damage. Institutional overseas investment ownership would present court challenges at every turn.

zichi I think you know that deep down there is no quick fix. And thanks to, I don't mean this disparagingly, EU member states have stepped into the breach to fill the needs for teachers, nurses, rubbish collectors, and road sweepers. The reason why tomorrow (Brexit negotiations begin) the government reportedly will be presenting a generous offer to make sure they retain teachers, nurses, rubbish collectors, road sweepers. Just one sector

The role of overseas investors in the London new-build residential market      

https://www.london.gov.uk/moderngovmb/documents/s58640/08b2b%20LSE%20Overseas%20Investment%20report.pdf

Below Live tables on rents, lettings and tenancies....I understand the base formula to lets, 'ownership' are included. There are some instances where local authorities has leveraged value to revenue. There are complex variables  geographically. Affordable social housing is diverse when factoring benefits. Update to January this year.

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-rents-lettings-and-tenancies

Phillip Hammond, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, just said on Andrew Marr's programme that the cladding used on Grenfell Tower is banned in the UK. So this is a criminal case. Unforunately, I don't see the police raiding offices and seizing documents before evidence is destroyed.

@itsonlyrocknrollJune

"Theresa May has flaws, but presents dignity and calm self-restraint in the face of an unscrupulous cynicaly motived politicking lynch mob mentality, unwilling to wait for the announced judge-led inquiry."

WTF really?

As a londoner and human i dont get how we are shifting to a world of tolerance, im no anarchist but come on people have a right to be mad and let down on many levels.

Quoting Aldous Huxley from a great interview with Mike Walace in the late 50's "I think, this is the danger that actually people may be, in some ways, happy under the new regime, but that they will be happy in situations where they oughtn't to be happy."

Hi zichi, I clearly led you to believe I insinuated or implied a level of impatience within your comments, especially in reference to 'quick fixes', that wasn't a conscious intention, I accept you have applied some careful thought and have knowledge of the area.

My opinion is the government should step back and compel, force the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea to release it contingency funds and act appropriately.

Short term lets in the private sector are available within the borough, this will be costly. However, the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea will need to make those funds available immediately.  At present there is no direct legislative route for any council to requisition/seize those empty properties for occupation.

Jeremy Corbyn's suggestion on a Peston on Sunday interview that councils or the Grenfell survivors should quote 'occupy it, compulsory purchase it, requisition it' is not a solution.

The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea have a solution right in front of them  to accommodate the survivors within the private rental sector, there are some rather fine examples close by starting around £2000 per week.

I have posted a draft Statement of accounts 2016 2017 for the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea that clearly reveal funding is available. The Red Cross have offered their skills in disaster management to aid the survivors. The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea must fully reimburse the charity. I think it is clear where authority and responsibility lies, at the door of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.

Long term housing solutions, and social policy are indeed a matter for central government.

Hi, Kobe White Bar Owner, I am commenting on media reports. Also some live broadcasts from Reuters news feed. The demonstrations appear to be focused on bringing down government, is this correct? I admit I have not visited London for quite some time.

How angry and mad does a society that feels let down become before that anger and madness boils over in to violent retribution?. Am I misinformed so sense there is a  palpable fear of a lynch mob form of Justice?. Is the media reports I have posted incorrect? Do you feel that a more unified approach from both Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn would have brought calm to an already volatile situation?  

Kobe White Bar Owner as a Londoner, do you have confidence that the judge led public inquire will provide judicial route for full investigative closure?

I remember a lecturer recanting  Aldous Huxley, I had to look it up ... “At least two thirds of our miseries spring from human stupidity, human malice, and those great motivators and justifiers of malice and stupidity: idealism, dogmatism and proselytizing zeal on behalf of religious or political idols.”......

Britain left 'somber' by high-rise inferno, says queen

...while having her castle go through an expensive renovation funded by tax payer's money.