Let’s seek justice for tower victims
Having read recent news items about the Grenfell Tower tragedy, I fear the inquiry will be a whitewash.
The Tories have appointed retired judge Sir Martin Moore-Bick to head the probe, but he is a pillar of the establishment.
Campaigners and the Labour party must ensure that victims get the justice they deserve. They must not be made to wait 30 years as the Hillsborough families did.
The causes of this dreadful fire are many – among them Tory austerity. With this knighted individual leading the investigation, the residents may perhaps get no answers.
Derek C Ray, North London
We have charitable organisations which in the event of a disaster are capable of dispatching aid and support to any country in the world within days, if not hours. But our useless government is incapable of providing suitable aid to families involved in a disaster which occurred just up the road. The Grenfell tragedy highlights the shortcomings of a government more concerned with votes in Parliament than the health and safety of its people. It spent £1billion trying to rectify an election disaster, while the homeless Grenfell residents are living in temporary accommodation.
Len Goodwin, Doncaster
Theresa May has announced an inquiry into the terrible tragedy, but no doubt we’ll get the same old response – lessons will be learnt. There is a fear that the inquiry will go on for years and be watered down so that it ends up a whitewash.
And we don’t need an establishment figure like Sir Martin MooreBick to head it up.
A R Hunt, Plymouth
Kensington and Chelsea’s disgraced former Chief Executive Nicholas Holgate is negotiating a severance deal, showing the absolute arrogance of people at the top.
It was his responsibility to ensure the safety of people living in Grenfell Tower and all the other properties under his control.
He should not be rewarded.
D A Goddard Bradford West Yorks
So far, most of the highrise buildings inspected across the country have failed new tests brought in after the Grenfell tragedy.
Much of the blame has been landed at the feet of the company which installed the cladding, but the use of such cladding apparently didn’t contravene building regulations.
Therefore the blame must lie with safety regulators of such buildings – ultimately UK governments over the last 40 years or so.
A J Smith, March, Cambs
Nobody can possibly have anything but sympathy for those who lost loved ones and their homes in the Grenfell Tower tragedy. It would appear that mistakes were made with the refurbishment, and in the immediate aftermath it seems things could have been handled differently. However, too many people are jumping to conclusions and apportioning blame without being in full possession of the facts. A number of inquiries have been set up – and we must wait for the results.
Harry Wright Letchworth Garden City, Herts
If we are to continue the austerity programme the Government insists upon, and thus add to the deprivation of people who are suffering, should we not stop giving huge amounts of money in overseas aid? When our debt is paid off, then we can begin to give it again. Charity begins at home.
Peter Morgan Shrewsbury, Shrops
I am sick of hearing there is no money for the public sector when we could be collecting hundreds of millions of pounds from the large corporations which avoid paying their fair share of tax. Why is nothing being done about this?
Leigh Balcombe Ashford, Kent