Mr Lee Jasper, veteran activist and former Policing and
Equalities Director for London (2000-2008) commented,
 |
| Grenfell Tower |
“My profound sorrow, prayers and thoughts are
with all the victims and all those affected by this appalling tragedy.
The black, smouldering, Dreadful Tower stands
as a glaring and ugly monument to London’s growing inequality, poverty and
discrimination.
A city where your class or colour, dictates
the quality of life and where discrimination against vulnerable communities is
rife.
The Tories brutal and ideological commitment
to austerity, has acted as a powerful magnifying glass that has massively
amplified disadvantage, racism and a disdain for the poor.
 |
RBKC Leader Councillor Nicholas Paget-Brown
|
Our sorrow and grief has been compounded by
the callous incompetence of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Council
(RBKC) and the Prime Minister who have behaved in an appalling and deeply
insensitive manner. I stand in solidarity with the local community, who are
calling for the resignation of all the current Tory Council leadership at RBKC. |
I fear that the woeful disaster response of RBKC gives us a clear indication of what could happen, if there was a large scale disaster at Notting Hill Carnival. This incident demonstrates that they have no strategic response and have treated their own residents with a callous contempt that defies belief.
I join all those who are rightly demanding
that former Housing Minister, Gavin
Barwell, now the Prime Minister’s current Chief of Staff, be sacked or resign
immediately.
His position is untenable given his derisory role
in failing to ensure fire safety regulations recommended by the Coroner at Southwark
Lakanal House fire inquest in 20013 were implemented.
He choose to sit on that
important review.
Put simply and with moral force, Gavin Barwell has blood on
his hands.
We need to support the demand that Government
conduct an urgent assessment of the estimated 4,000 Tower Blocks in the UK that
have the same, combustible external cladding, as a matter of extreme urgency.
People and families’ are living with acute stress and fear of not knowing if
their block is safe.
I’d like to personally applaud the skill and unbelievable
bravery of fire-fighters, the police and in particular local residents. We
should be righlty proud of their response. Their example of heroism stands in
stark contrast to the total failure of leadership shown by both the Royal
Borough Of Kensington and Chelsea and central Government. The leader of RBKC
must resign and publically apologise for their failure.
They cannot remain in office.
Whilst we grieve
deeply with the families and those still assumed missing and those injured we
urge the Metropolitan Police to urgently arrest those responsible all those
officer at RBKC and the Kensington and Chelsea Management Organisation (KCTMO)
along with all relevant contractors, on potential corporate manslaughter
charges and to seize all available evidence before it is destroyed.
This is not only a continuing danger to public
confidence in identifying these responsible but Grenfell House should be
treated as a crime scene not an accident investigation. We remember all too
well that when the victims are poor, black and minority people money is saved,
corners cut and investigations fail as with the now infamous investigatory
debacle into the London New Cross Fire Massacre.
It’s vital that London authorities comprehend the
outrage this hellish fire has engendered in our communities. It is essential
that wise counsel is sought and employed to guide those that are charged with responding.
London authorities legitimacy and credibility is on the line and may be irreparably
damaged.
The furious reaction to the PM's visit speaks volumes. She was forced
into retreat in the face of sheer outrage. May seems both emotionally sterile
and illiterate.”
Although I have now retired from activism, given
the scale of this tragedy I humbly offer my own view as to what I believe
should happen now;
Suggested demands:
- Demand the sacking/resignation of the entire
Conservative administration of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC).
They must now face a Labour vote of no confidence, or a local referendum demand
for an elected Mayor. Demand the sacking
of ex housing Minister Gavin Barwell who bears the full responsibility for
failing to act on the Coroners report recommendations into the 2013 Southwark
Lakanal House fire;
- That the Mayor
of London Sadiq Khan demand that Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea be
taken into special measures by Government and that all disaster response responsibility
is transferred to the London Mayors Office to lead through the Mayors Fund and
coordinate the work or voluntary organisations and the public, seeking to
donate funds and resources to those directly affected;
- Grenfell Tower should now be covered up to provide
dignity to the dead who remain in the building. Arrange a multi faith blessing
service at Grenfell Tower to bless and consecrate the dead who remain. Call a national 1 minute silence one week on.
- Demand the immediate
fire safety assessment of all 4,000 Tower Blocks in the UK; That UK Mayor’s and
Local Government Association should convene a national Tower Block Safety Group
to drive fire safety.
- An urgent
criminal investigation is instigated by the Metropolitan Police Service into
potential criminal negligence at RBKC, Kensington and Chelsea Management
Organisation (KCTMO); Harley Facades, Rydon and all other private contractors
that bear responsibility for the work, maintenance and surveying of the Grenfell
Tower Block;
- The Metropolitan
Police Service must immediately secure and seize all vital documentary
evidence, email and communication among all those contractors and council
officers responsible for fire and building safety maintenance at Grenfell
Towers.
- Last and
most important that the Mayor of London urgently convenes a City wide disaster
response task force, to help coordinate and direct relief and support efforts.
This includes entering partnership with Grenfell Tower residents with the
Mayors Fund to lead charitable donation in support.
End.
