Now then, Grenfell. And this report. Which is already provoking absolute fury and disgust amongst my followers, for completely understandable reasons.
This horrific tragedy had multiple causes.
This horrific tragedy had multiple causes.
1. Austerity. The fire services, like all the emergency services, have been disgracefully under-resourced by the Tories and by the coalition. As a result, a good deal of their equipment on the night did not work properly.
It never ceases to amaze me how many people just cannot make the link between making cuts, huge ones, and endangering lives. That's what happened here.
2. The cladding. The report has rightly concluded as such too. A legacy of British building regulations being an absolute joke - and of neoliberalism encouraging companies galore to cut corners in the name of profit. Disgusting. Those responsible should face jail.
3. Legal aid cuts. These very cuts - shame on you forever, Liberal Democrats: blood on your hands - made it impossible for the residents to so much as seek legal advice over the state of the building BEFORE it happened. These poor residents knew what could occur, and had no voice
4. It's very important to highlight what the report does and does not say. Of course it doesn't blame ordinary firemen and women! It acknowledges their heroism, putting themselves in harm's way to save others. We all owe them the most profound debt. They are the best of us.
But quite rightly, the report questions those in charge, their decisions, the obvious lack of preparedness for such a hideous tragedy, and the disastrous 'stay put' advice. There's no easy way to say this, but that advice killed people.
I'm thousands of miles away on the other side of the world. I first became aware of what was going on when the 24/7 news networks did. For at least 2 hours, I sat watching in bewilderment at a towering inferno while residents were told to stay inside. That was utterly ridiculous.
On other forums, I wrote as much at the time. I couldn't believe what the broadcasters were telling us... and sorry, but there's no excuse. As soon as the fire could not be contained in one flat, the stay put advice ceased to apply because it was no longer workable.
Those in the control rooms had, as a bare minimum, the same pictures in front of them as the whole world was watching. That the advice still wasn't changed is incredible and indefensible.
Before anyone suggests it. I am not comparing this to Hillsborough in any way. But there, commanders froze, failed to adapt to what was in front of them, then tried covering it up. At Grenfell, commanders also froze, and completely failed to adapt. Totally failed there.
Now - are there logistical questions on how the fire services could've coped inside the building had its occupants all been desperately staggering downstairs? There are. Of course there are. But that people still managed to escape so late tells its own story. The advice was wrong
There are people in the fire services who were utterly traumatised by what went on that night. Not just what they saw or experienced; but because they KNOW that the instructions they were given were wrong. Therefore, tragically, some of them blame themselves. Poor poor people.
It is quite appalling that they were put in that position. This is really really basic stuff. Fire could not be contained in one flat ---> stay put advice no longer applicable. Fire racing up the building and turning it into an inferno ---> get the hell out.
Don't have the oxygen or the hoses to get above a certain level? Then for God's sake, don't tell those people above that level to stay where they are! And whatever you do, don't ignore what the people still there are telling you over the phone.
On the part of those in charge, this was very serious human error. Many people freeze in an emergency; it's natural. But it's the job of those in charge not to freeze. That's exactly what they're there for.
The relatives and loved ones of many of those who died know this already. They know the wrong advice was given and that had those they've lost been told to leave, significant numbers could have been saved. My heart breaks for them.
As it also breaks for disgracefully under-resourced, poorly led firemen and women. These people should be exalted. These people should, frankly, be paid more than anyone else in any profession. What they put themselves through is beyond words.
Such is the kind of country the UK now is, the right wing press will do its utmost to misreport all this and try and make its readers blame the fire services in total. When they do, that'll just show us yet again what said right wing press is: vermin. Lower than a snake's belly.
But those in charge DO have questions to answer. Serious ones. For Dany Cotton to say she wouldn't change anything the brigade did on the night really isn't on. What happened demanded searing self-examination and reflection - because horrendous, lethal blunders were made.
But no, I'm not somehow betraying the fire services for calling out those in charge that night. I'm on the side of ordinary, disgracefully underpaid firemen and women. I'm on the side of all those who've suffered so much under austerity. And I'm on the side of the truth. Always.
May all those who died that night rest in peace. May their families find some kind of healing from what they've endured. May this report reveal the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, when it's fully published. The families are owed nothing less. #JusticeforGrenfell
PS. I should add that of course, the disgusting state of the building and the shameless neglect by an arrogant beyond belief council were factors too. Major ones. Grenfell was the ultimate consequence of not only austerity, but the despicable state of British housing.
