Tory councillors banned from Grenfell Tower church service
By Robert Mendick
and Olivia Rudgard ST PAUL’S Cathedral risked being caught up in the fallout over the Grenfell Tower tragedy after Conservative councillors were barred from a memorial service.
The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea said all elected Tories on the council had been told to stay away from the service, while Labour councillors had been invited. The Bishop of Kensington, who is coordinating the service at St Paul’s on Thursday, said that tensions between the victims’ relations and the Conservativerun council had led to a decision to exclude its leadership.
A council spokesman later said that “all Conservatives” had been asked to stay away.
The council has been blamed for the blaze in the 24-storey tower block in which 71 people, includ- ing a stillborn baby, died on June 14.
Survivors remain angry that many are still in temporary accommodation as Christmas app roaches.
The decision puts the church authorities in the difficult position of potentially appearing to side with a set of councillors from a particular political party. Council elections are due to be
held in May next year. The spokesman added “some families” had expressed concern at the prospect of its leadership attending the service.
Marie-therese Rossi, Kensington’s mayor who is a Conservative and is the ceremonial head, said she would have preferred to attend. Councillor Rossi said: “I would like to go but I am not. I cannot say more than that.” When told Labour councillors were attending, she said: “I wasn’t aware of that.”
St Paul’s Cathedral is hosting the multi-faith service to which Theresa May is invited. The Prime Minister was last night juggling her diary to ensure she can attend before flying to a vital European summit in Brussels.
Sajid Javid, the Communities Secretary, is also going although his department has faced heavy criticism.
The decision to keep council leaders away from St Paul’s followed discussions between Grenfell United, the group representing survivors and victims’ families, and the church. The Rt Revd Dr Graham Tomlin, Bishop of Kensington said: “The service has been focused on the needs of the survivors and the bereaved families. Many [in the community] were uncomfortable with the presence of representatives from RBKC due to ongoing tensions. This situation was explained to senior members who voluntarily chose not to attend to respect the feelings of the community.” The bishop said he told councillors that no one will be specifically excluded and it is up to them to decide whether or not to attend.
The public inquiry into the disaster, which is due to start hearing evidence next year, was told yesterday that 383 companies are being investigated by Scotland Yard.
Firms, individuals and public bodies involved in the construction or refurbishment are being looked at closely by for a range of offences including manslaughter, misconduct in public office and breaches in fire safety regulations.