London fire

Wilma you are a much kinder person than I am - he and his CE - too little, too late. It was their role and responsibility and trying to put it right now is just completely inadequate. I didn't say evil but both a complete failure - what he may have to live with is as nothing compared with what the people they let down have to live with.Resigning would show contrition and maybe people more capable could take over - but actually Ealing I believe are taking over - so what are those two doing now- just hanging around on the pay roll?

Rigby I've already said he'll have to step down, but that doesn't mean I can't see he's trying to help right now. I'm sure he's well aware now of how bad things got on his watch and he'll have to live with himself about this. No one is evil here. Just human.

William comforting an old woman separated from her husband during the evacuation
Her husband is missing. William reached out to comfort her. I'm no Royalist, but I do admire him for doing the right thing at the right moment here. Some people just need to feel that others do care.

Pager Brown( the leader) received £54, 769 - the highest special responsibility allowance of any Councillor in the country despite the overall reduction of allowances expenditure - £20,000 greater than that of neighbouring council leaders including boroughs such as Hammersmith and Fulham, and Westminster

I couldn't agree less -Wilma he's the leader of the council, he is paid for this, he has a Chief Exec on £188k salary - if this is their best, it's disgraceful. Both should be resigning

I just watched the news dj and the applause for the fire service was moving, as was the piece showing 2 brothers hoping to find 6 family members who are missing. I have a lot of time for Richard Murphy, so thanks for that link.

On the news I heard that another council is now running the main rescue centre (I think it's Ealing). The Home Office now has a presence too. All in all, it doesn't sound like K&C have risen to the task. Given the extent of the tragedy, that's not surprising in some ways, but it doesn't show the wealthiest council in the country in a very good light at all. I'm starting to feel a bit sorry for the leader of the council, as he does seem to be trying his best right now. Hard questions will need to be answered later though.

Political composition Ealing Council

Labour 53
Conservative 12
LD 4

Says it all really

Wilma I agree with you that no one person should take the blame. I have been arguing for years that housing should be towards the top of the political agenda.

It has never been taken seriously by any government, because nobody has been prepared to consider the bigger picture and all are interested in vested interests an votes.

I can only hope that the legacy of those who have lost their lives will be a serious review of housing in the UK. I think we, as a country, owe it to them.

Indeed it is the whole rotten system.

Grenfell Tower is a microcosm of three ideas:

1 De-regulation
2 Outsourcing
3 Austerity

Shame on those who can't see that it's political.

Read this post from Richard Murphy when you have time and the stamina, Wilma. He's right, it's the whole rotten system.

www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2017/06/18/changing-the-cladding-wont-be-enough-its-the-whole-rotten-system-that-has-to-change-now/

I haven't watched the news today dj. Just haven't felt like it tbh.

I can't see how the leaders of the wealthiest council in the country can stay in post. I don't think resignations will be restricted to the council either. The repercussions will be wide reaching as we find out who made relevant decisions over several years. I think TM's new right hand man Gavin Barwell will come under pressure. He was the Housing minister until he lost his seat in the General election. Mind you he was appointed less than a year ago and it is a position which has seen a quick turnaround of ministers since it was created. I doubt if anyone was in post more than 2 years.

"The Government must also take a serious look at the neglect and chronic underfunding of social housing over decades."

From the residents statement. Being a bit hopeful, I fear.

I see the council leader has still not stepped down. Must be a Tory failing.

That's in the Guardian links, Wilma, but it doesn't matter if it's being repeated.
Did you see them clapping the firefighters on the news?
It made me well up.

I don't think it had been mentioned, but I hope it's a positive move. K & C council seem to be totally incompetent and I sincerely hope heads will roll.

I understand Ealing Council is stepping in to do the nitty gritty stuff.

Also -

Cash payments of £500 were available for families from Sunday night, and from Monday payments of £5,000 will be put into bank accounts. The money, which will come from the £5m emergency fund previously announced by Downing Street, and which will go to families whose homes were destroyed in the fire, may be increased if necessary, for example to pay for funeral costs.

Apologies if I have duplicated information.

I don't know if this has already been mentioned but according to the Guardian -

Responsibility for the relief effort has been taken away from Kensington and Chelsea council and handed to Gold Command, the emergency services network in place to manage disasters.

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/jun/18/tories-learned-nothing-compassion-grenfell-tower-response

Hopefully things will improve for those left with nothing.

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/jun/18/council-leader-nick-paget-brown-grenfell-tower-response

www.byline.com/column/22/article/1731

All the articles from the Grenfell Association in one place.

My Mum worked in neighbourhood housing until the early 90s. Her office was at the bottom of one of four 22 storey blocks in an old but poor area of the inner city. The fire safety arrangements included rooftop evacuation by helicopter for certain floors. As is common with tower blocks, the lifts being out of order was always a problem, so the council were careful about who got housed in each block, especially on higher floors.

My London fireman has just taken Dave the terrier out. My fireman has a limp

Part of Corbyn's letter to May, where he says that Kensington council appear not to be sticking to her promise to rehouse locally.

1k95i3bqziq3bboq03r87f8x-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/19222860_10155470101023872_1736966965898025969_o-e1497709479342.jpg

inews.co.uk/essentials/news/politics/jeremy-corbyn-attacks-kensington-chelsea-councils-handling-grenfell-tower-disaster/

inews.co.uk/essentials/news/kensington-chelseas-empty-homes-land-banking-explained/

I'm not impressed by this.

skwawkbox.org/2017/06/18/grenfell-video-move-north-or-be-intentionally-homeless-lose-all-support/

The Cadija that he is talking about would be David Lammy's friend, I would think.
Her husband has been put in an old people's home.

Please, please, please sign anything you can to get this stopped.
May said everyone would be rehoused in the area.
Is she lying again?