Mogg

It was a very insensitive thing to say (and I'm a fan of the man). He doesn't seem to realise that people don't find themselves in that sort of situation very often! They trust those in authority to give them the best advice.

Oh, and I can be gullible which is why I went to the trouble of listening very carefully to what he said.

Easily shocked? No, not shocked by this out of touch person.

That's how it sounded to me, but then I'm awash with envy.

Unless he was saying it would be common sense to him and the interviewer, but not to the residents of Grenfell.

Plain insulting.

Yes, I've heard it.

"And I think if either of us were in a fire, whatever the fire brigade said, we would leave the burning building. It just seems the common sense thing to do."

That is what he said. Seems plain enough to me.

Yes, I have heard it because I'm not going to comment on lies.

I have also heard a pastor from the community saying people are devastated by the comments.

So, if it was taken out of context why has he apologised?

I wonder how many posting on here have actually heard the interview?

At no point did he say the residents did not have common sense.

He said what I have heard numerous people say, that it is common sense to flee a burning building.

Exactly Gill

Being polite and having a certain accent doesn't preclude you from making offensive and ill-judged statements. Eton doesn't appear to instill common sense in its ex pupils.

I certainly would not blame the residents for doing as they were advised.
JRM did not 'blame the residents'. His comments have been taken out of context and a different meaning put on them. There are some gullible people posting here, and clearly some who are easily shocked too!

I don't hate Rees-Mogg. He is living the life he as born into and most likely living it well. But he shouldn't have said what he did. It was beyond crass.

JenniferEccles I’m not easily shocked but you have managed to chill me with your post. Shocking,

James O'Brien looked at Jacob Rees-Mogg's apology over his Grenfell remarks in the context of Dominic Cummings saying "Tory MPs don't care about poorer people".

Whitewave, no one blamed the villagers of Aberfan , and it was a labour government who supported the guilty

If JRM had read the report as he claims, he would know that it is standard advice to stay put in case of fire on the basis that (1) fire doors are meant to contain the fire within the area and (2) hundreds of people rushing downstairs, possible falling, and blocking the way will hinder the progress of the fire fighters. the whole thing was the 'perfect storm' of mis-information, poor quality products,and although none of us know what we would do in this type of dreadful situation, I certainly would not blame the residents for doing as they were advised. In a previous thread, one poster puts the decline of society in general down to the current generation's unwillingness to obey orders and do as they are told, both opinions cannot be right.

Sorry flying - we crossed.

I agree with Jennifer's second post but unfortunately some people lack the confidence to over-rule someone in authority - in this case the firemen. I am tired of said firemen being blamed for the tragedy. They are very brave people merely following policies laid down by others.

I agree Chestnut

What has he done to enrage people?

I guess being public school/Eton educated and speaking properly is enough for some. Pathetic.

He is always unfailingly polite and well mannered even under extreme provocation

Not everyone finds it easy to disobey authority. If you had just asked the people if they thought they should leave a burning building or not I expect they would all have said they should. However, if they are told the fire brigade says it is safer to stay put inside their flat away from the smoke and let the fire brigade put the fire out and not get in their way, then some people will assume they should obey and some will leave anyway. As the fire spreads some of those who obeyed will change their minds and come to the conclusion they should have left. But now they have a new question because it is now harder to get down the stairs, the smoke is thicker, the heat more intense. Now it takes real bravery to attempt it. Now you or your family are so scared. Now you know either decision could be fatal but you must chose quickly. Can you think clearly? Can you push through your fear? What if you have extra considerations like mobility issues or asthma? Do you honestly still think this was about common sense? But yes, now we all know if we ever find ourselves in that situation we will leave, even though there may end up being injuries and deaths from the sudden rush of people on the stairs.

Like I said JRM spoke the truth. He said the tragedy was primarily caused by the cladding but compounded by residents staying put.

That is exactly what happened.

He obviously regretted the ‘common sense’ comment and apologised.

Why then is there so much hatred of him displayed on here?

This thread just seems another excuse to have a go at JRM. he didn't say the residents had 'no common sense', he said leaving the building just seemed to be the common sense thing to do which is very different. I'm not saying he was right to comment on this, just that it is not as dreadful as people are making out and not a criticism of the residents. During the interview he is clearly saddened by the event just the same as everyone else.

Honestly, no-one dare say anything these days for fear of people throwing a barrage of vicious insults at them.

Tory party policy - blame the victims

They blamed villagers for Aberfan
•They blamed miners for Orgreave
•They blamed fans for Hillsborough
•They blamed Families for Grenfell

It's not a "gaffe", it's party policy!

* sickening number of people seem to have fallen for the Tory party/right wing press story that somehow, this tragedy was the fault of the residents/fire service anyone but the bloody people who approved the cladding, who ignored the many complaints from Residents Association about fire hazards, faulty fire doors etc*

Untrue.

Nothing to do with right wing press or politicians.

This was discussing the inquiry where the 'stay put' advice was wrong .

I have worked in large offices. Hundreds of people. Civil Service and private. Fire? Leave the building.

I was a juror at a Crown Court where hundreds of people were in attendance.

Fire alarm.

We all traipsed out.

If something is on fire I run for it. But these people were told to stay. Which sadly was the wrong thing in the situation.

I recall the live horror of watching it on the night and people on the ground screaming at the residents to leave. Harrowing.

But please, don't play political games.

The cladding is still in use in many buildings up and down the country. In both Labour and Conservative wards.

The next inquiry will be looking into this and no doubt we'll see criticisms

Our firefighters were brilliant that night. Nobody is criticising them

I went to buy an apartment on the first floor of a three storey development. I asked the sales rep where the fire escape was and she told me just what those residents at Grenfell were told. I immediately thought well, I won't be buying this then.

However, my DD really liked the look of the place so we went back and during the second viewing, I mentioned to the rep what his colleague had said, but thought he must have been mistaken surely.

'Oh no', he said, 'after a fire in the Midlands somewhere the advice was to stay put and by then the fire brigade would be there'. Really? In all weathers and all traffic conditions? It confirmed for me that however nice it was, I wouldn't be living there. And that was just three storeys high.