British Theresa May snubs Grenfell Tower disaster survivors

This video from London, England says about itself:

Lily Allen Interview with Jon Snow on the Grenfell Tower Fire Tragedy

15 June 2017

Local resident Lily Allen talks to Jon Snow about the Grenfell Tower fire tragedy and raises questions about the role played by local councillors and the death toll number.

By Lamiat Sabin in Britain:

Tories silent on Grenfell disaster

Friday 16th June 2017

May avoids survivors and her government takes no action in wake of lethal tower fire

GOVERNMENT failures over the devastating Grenfell Tower fire show its guilt in stark contrast to hard-working members of the community pitching in to help the victims, locals told the Star yesterday.

PM Theresa May arrived at the scene of the council block blaze on Thursday and was criticised for her hands-off approach to the situation.

She had met firefighters and promised a full public inquiry into the tragedy that has seen 17 people confirmed dead so far since the fire broke out early on Tuesday morning, but did not speak to residents or any of those affected.

Apparently, Ms May was scared the survivors of this horrible disaster might say a few critical words to her about her government’s cuts in firefighting. Or about her fellow Conservatives of Kensington local council’s mismanagement of safety at Grenfell Tower, and their censorship of inhabitants warning that this week’s disaster would happen because of that.

Like Ms May had earlier been scared of debating Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and other party leaders during the general election which she had called.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn by contrast consoled them in their grief by offering hugs and words of comfort.

He has also spoken of his anger over fire precautions in the tower that did not work.

He added: “Kensington is a tale of two cities — it is among the wealthiest parts of this country but the ward where this took place is one of the poorest.

“The judge-led public inquiry must be speedy and all residents should have access to legal aid and the support they need.

“Residents must also be rehoused, using requisition of empty properties if necessary, in the community they love.”

Antoine Albert, who has lived in Ladbroke Grove all his life, spoke to the Star about the perceived indifference from Ms May and local government. He said: “This is what Theresa May does. She did a political drive-by. She came, she saw, and was gone.

“There’s no point in asking the government to do anything when they don’t do much. They had the opportunity to do something — but they didn’t, so we, the people, just get on with it.”

Mr Albert continued: “The responsibility goes to the very top. Someone is accountable for this and if they have done something deliberately, then they should go to prison.

“Because if it was the other way around, that would be the case — 100 per cent.

“There is a double standard and the Tory council and government’s silence is guilt.”

Mark Dunn, who grew up in the area, said it was astounding to see all people of all races and religions club together while council and government representatives were nowhere to be seen.

MC CKP said Grenfell tower was a “monument of austerity” for those that lived in it and in its shadow, and the deaths were a result of continuous cuts being made to proper building materials and fire safeguards until people’s lives were cut short.

The veteran garage MC added: “We watched 9/11 burn on television, we watched this tower burn on television.

“In both cases people were jumping out of buildings, they’re similar situations with different causes. You might as well say this is our 9/11.”

The local response to the horrific fire that ripped through dozens of floors within 15 minutes — which was said to be down to the flammable exterior cladding — has been nothing short of astounding.

Community centres and places of worship have been overwhelmed with donations and offers of help.

So much food has been donated to the centres, churches and mosques that piles of perishable items have been left on trestle tables for anyone to take home with them to avoid waste.

Theo, who works at a healthy-eating restaurant in nearby Kensal Rise, offered free cooked food that his team had made to passers-by and volunteers. He did not wish to reveal the name of the restaurant.

He told the Star: “I’m a local person, these are my people and everyone needs to eat.

“The chicken went immediately, of course. We saw that survivors and volunteers were given boxed sandwiches, and we thought we should do our bit to offer them something better.”

This video says about itself:

15 June 2017

British grimer Akala speaks out about the tragic events that led to the Grenfell Tower tragedy and criticizes the Tory government for budget cuts and the failure to fix public housing in Britain.

The Guardian view on Grenfell Tower: Theresa May’s Hurricane Katrina. Editorial. The 2005 hurricane that devastated New Orleans exposed failings in leadership and a terrible disdain for the lives of the poor. The London fire is doing the same: here.

From Conservative weekly The Spectator, 15 June 2017:

Why on earth didn’t May meet or speak to any survivors of the fire, show some empathy in public, and promise them face-to-face that the government would look after them and get to the bottom of what nearly killed them? It would have perfectly rebutted the claim that the rich and powerful simply don’t care about the lives of poorer people who live in social housing.

She apparently didn’t speak to a single local about what had happened. This is exactly what Tory MPs, and indeed many voters, complained about during and after the election: May comes across as too cold and detached. In statements, she has said she wants to ‘reassure’ the residents of Grenfell Tower. Why not do that in the flesh? George Bush diverting Air Force One to fly over the scene of the Hurricane Katrina disaster springs to mind. Rightly, he was criticised as too distant from the misery below.

Grenfell Tower fire: Theresa May did not speak to us, angry resident tells Jeremy Corbyn: here.

As families of those still missing appealed for help in finding their loved ones, Prime Minister Theresa May visited the scene of a deadly fire at Grenfell Tower in Kensington, West London, on Thursday, but declined to meet survivors: here.

A lot of people are asking why Theresa May couldn’t spare time to meet Grenfell Tower residents: here.

From the Conservative Daily Telegraph, 16 June 2017:

Theresa May failed to show “humanity” when she refused to meet survivors of the Grenfell Tower fire tragedy, a [Conservative] former cabinet minister has said.

Michael Portillo said the Prime Minister “didn’t use her humanity”when she visited the scene of the blaze yesterday.

In a scathing assessment of the Prime Minister, the former Conservative minister [Portillo] also said Mrs May was a “proven loser” and would not last in the job beyond September this year: here.

From the Huffington Post today:

Theresa May is facing a tide of anger after refusing to meet Grenfell Tower survivors when she visited the scene of the blaze this morning.

In stark contrast to Jeremy Corbyn, who was pictured hugging and greeting residents, the Prime Minister was flanked by security as she viewed the devastation at the Kensington high-rise disaster.

But her ‘private’ visit meant she did not encounter residents, journalists or any members of the public – in a move some dubbed “appalling”.

One local resident called Kim said: “Our Prime Minister: where is she? She came and she didn’t speak to people. She got into a car full of police who took her down there.”

Kim added: “She didn’t speak to any of the local residents, the people who count. She wasn’t here for more than five minutes.

“She just came for a quick look around. She didn’t even want to come. This is just her protocol. She just wanted to look good.”

This video from London, England says about itself:

Ishmahil Blagrove Criticizes Mainstream Media Coverage of Grenfell Tower Tragedy

15 June 2017

Local resident Ishmahil Blagrove has stuck it to the mainstream media outside the Grenfell Tower disaster area, criticizing them for their lackluster coverage of the fire tragedy and their coverage of Jeremy Corbyn during the election campaign who promised to fix safety issues in public housing.

Theresa May faces a backlash after failing to meet the survivors of the Grenfell Tower blaze when she visited the scene: here.

‘THERESA May has faced heavy criticism for failing to meet survivors of the deadly Grenfell Tower blaze during a “private visit” to the scene of the devastation’, the Conservative Daily Express writes.

‘This is not okay’: Theresa May faces criticism for not meeting Grenfell Tower fire survivors: here.

‘Theresa May ‘broke down in tears’ but is slammed for making ‘private visit’ to devastation at Grenfell Tower – while Corbyn is seen hugging survivors just an hour later’, the Conservative Daily Mail writes.

Even Rupert Murdoch‘s pro-Conservative and viciously anti-Labour The Sun daily notes:

‘ABSOLUTE DISGRACE’ Theresa May slammed for not meeting Grenfell blaze victims as Jeremy Corbyn embraces locals at relief centre

What a contrast. Jeremy Corbyn went to speak to survivors of the Grenfell Tower tragedy after Theresa May was given a “private visit” of their devastated community: here.

The difference between Jeremy Corbyn and Theresa May’s visits to Grenfell tower in two pictures: here.

‘Adele can meet victims of Grenfell Tower, Theresa May can’t’: here.

GRENFELL INFERNO – THE GOVERNMENT AND COUNCIL IGNORED WARNINGS: here.

Labour MP angrily brands Grenfell Tower tragedy ‘corporate manslaughter’. London MP David Lammy said there should be “arrests made” after the blaze which devastated the high-rise block: here. And here.

Many more would have died in London tower block blaze if it wasn’t for Ramadan: ‘These Muslim boys helped us’: here.

A video from London, England used to say about itself:

Grenfell Tower Survivor Praises Young Muslim Heroes For Running Into Burning Building Saving Lives

15 June 2017

A Grenfell Tower inferno survivor praises the efforts of local Muslim youth for running into the burning building in an effort to save as many lives as possible and for their efforts of mobilising the support of mosques from all over London to deliver supplies and support for all the victims of the tragedy.

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