Grenfell must be a ‘time to learn’
I was unable to hold back the tears watching the people at the Grenfell Tower memorial sing Somewhere, from West Side Story. How apt those lyrics were: “Time together with time to spare, Time to learn, time to care... We’ll find a new way of living, we’ll find a way of forgiving.”
But out of sadness comes hope. The tide is turning with decent and aware young people joining hands on social media to help us find a new way of living. And seeing Labour and Tory MPs cheering and punching the air in unison, after defeating this vile Tory Government over the Brexit Bill, tells us these young people are, indeed, taking us Somewhere. Eric Thorpe, Salford, Gtr Manchester
# Those poor people died in the Grenfell Tower inferno because our society has forgotten its core values – to care for the less well off and the vulnerable. The sick show of solidarity by members of the Government at the St Paul’s Cathedral memorial service just made it even worse in my eyes. At least Jeremy Corbyn had a right to be there as he was first to console the residents in the days after the disaster. Colin Davies, Liverpool
# It was sickening to see the ranks of the establishment, foremost among them Theresa May, at the memorial service for the Grenfell Tower victims. It’s the market forces promoted and celebrated by the likes of Theresa May and the Tory-domi- nated Kensington and Chelsea council that are to blame for their deaths. Years of Thatcherism has built a society wedded to the idea that nothing, including basic safety, must stand in the way of accumulating profit. Sasha Simic, North London
# It’s now more than six months since the Grenfell disaster and the majority of the survivors are still living in temporary accommodation or with friends.
Would these people have been treated in the same way if the majority had been white and middle class? I think not. It’s disgusting that with a click of its fingers our Government can find £1billion to keep themselves in power, but won’t spend the money to make tower blocks safe. Len Goodwin, Doncaster
# I am surprised Theresa May had the audacity to attend the memorial service for Grenfell Tower. However, it was nice to see members of the Royal Family speaking to the families and offering words of comfort. What does this say about our Prime Minister? M Pickering, Harrow, Gtr London
# It was very moving to see the Grenfell memorial service. The address by the Very Reverend Dr David Ison, Dean of St Paul’s, was fitting for those left traumatised by this tragedy which was, after all, preventable. Now we must let the inquiry do its work and hope that justice is delivered for the residents. C Draper, Gateshead, Tyne & Wear
# The Grenfell Tower disaster has a real danger of becoming another Hillsborough, with those who should be charged being either dead or too old and frail to face prosecution by the time it comes to court – if it ever does.
B Smith St Helens Merseyside
# When is the Speaker of the House of Commons going to tell Tory MPs that Prime Minister’s Questions is exactly that, not just a time for bragging?
Also, could he please tell the PM to stop referring to the last Labour government when her party have been in power for more than seven years? Frank Lee, Wigan
# I find it amusing the Government has recognised that animals are sentient beings, now protected by law.
Does this now mean solicitors will be trying to get compensation for all the foxes, deer, grouse, badgers, pheasants etc, this Government and its supporters enjoy killing in the name of so-called sport? Steve Mounsey Nottingham