Mcdonnell: Time to hold ‘Grenfell social murderers’ to account

John Mcdonnell has said people responsible for “social murder” at Grenfell Tower should be held to account.

The shadow chancellor insisted he has no regrets for saying the victims of the disaster in west London were murdered by political decisions taken over recent decades.

He reiterated the claim and defended his previous remarks while appearing on BBC 1’s Andrew Marr Show.

At least 80 people are thought to have died in last month’s devastating fire at Grenfell Tower.

Mr Mcdonnell, asked if he regretted saying people were murdered by political decisions, replied: “No, I don’t regret that. I was extremely angry with what went on. I’m a west London MP, this site is not far from me. Political decisions were made which resulted in the deaths of these people. That’s a scandal.”

Pressed on the use of the word “murder”, Mr Mcdonnellreplied:“there’salonghistory in this country of the concept of social murder where decisions are made with no regard to consequences of that, and as a result of that people have suffered. That’s what’s happened here. I believe social murder has occurred in this incidence and I believe people should be accountable.”

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