The Grenfell Towers Tragedy Could Ferment Hate In Our Streets If Used For Political Ends.
A dangerous game
On his visit to the scene on Thursday, Jeremy Corbyn did nothing to tone down the rhetoric of class division that was one of the legacies of last week’s election result. The Labour leader is playing a dangerous game. Moreover, had politicians not pledged to heal the divisions in society to mark the first anniversary of the death of Jo Cox, the Labour MP murdered last year? No one doubts that the election and the referendum highlighted the rift in Britain between the better off and the poor, and also between the young and the older generations. But it is the duty of our political leaders to heal wounds, not seek to open them further.
On the cheap
After all, there is nothing inherently unfair about housing people in high-rise buildings. Nor is there anything wrong about trying to make tower blocks look attractive, which the cladding recently erected around Grenfell Tower was partly intended to achieve. The issue is how it was done and the consequences. This disaster is more about the failure of state agencies to respond decisively to the recommendations of safety reports commissioned after previous tragedies.
Was the recent renovation work and the installation of cheaper cladding responsible – and if so are there other buildings that need to be dismantled or the towers evacuated?
All of this represents a huge challenge for any Government in normal circumstances; but when it has no majority and no certainty of staying in office it is infinitely more problematic. Theresa May has announced a public inquiry but that could take months to set up; an interim report is essential to establish the basic facts so that people living in similar accommodation can sleep without the fear that the same could happen to them.
Furthermore, a sense that someone is getting a grip on this disaster and all of its ramifications is a paramount necessity; and yet the local council’s response has been woeful while the Government seems to be drifting, rudderless, stunned by the election result and overwhelmed by the magnitude of all the other tasks it faces, not least the Brexit talks that begin on Monday.
Already the UK has had to agree to the terms set by the EU, with the exit fee and nationality rights to be settled before substantive negotiations. This is a clear acknowledgement of the Government’s weakness as Mrs May prepares to put a slimmed-down Queen’s Speech to Parliament without any guarantee of getting it through, though the DUP is almost certain to support the Conservatives.
Above all, the language of division and instant blame needs to be tempered. Using this tragedy to attack a weakened government for political ends in the way the Left is now doing will achieve nothing and can only foment violence on the streets. For now, finding out what happened and preventing a repeat is what matters – and Mr Corbyn needs to make that clear to his supporters.
This awful tragedy does seem to be being used as a tool for political gain and i am saddened by the way that the media is reporting on this.... that being said Teresa May has done herself no favours, showing up to the site with countless policeman and showing no humility....... she looked cold and uncaring.
Her new nickname in the press is Maybot!
She does seem to be lacking empathy but could that be just the way that she is being portrayed by the media. The Queen was clearly the complete opposite....... i personally don't believe that any of the party leaders are strong enough to be prime minister but that's my opinion. Politics should not detract from the victims of this terrible tragedy xx im a new fan.... following your blog xxx
I think May has been working a lot behind the scenes with the ambulance service etc. and is more a hands on kind of person rather than an empathetic one. Thank for the follow. Steem on @yummymummy :)
These are the few reasons I hate politics.
Tragedy never bodes well for politics @rocksg!
You are right bro.