A lack of empathy and very far from a dazzling intellect

■ I’m no fan of leader of the house of commons Jacob Rees-Mogg but his absolutely disgusting comments regarding the victims of the Grenfell tragedy plumb new depths (Metro, Wed).

To suggest that residents should have used their ‘common sense’ and ignored the instructions of the fire brigade and fled the burning tower block shows he has no idea of the practical issues in evacuating a building.

Under fire safety regulations, anyone in a room of a house or flat should be able to secure themselves in the room and be safe for half an hour to an hour before the fire burns through.

Because of the cladding, however, the entire tower block was ablaze in less than 30 minutes, which made any attempt at an evacuation or rescue virtually impossible.

He may have subsequently apologised for his comments but Rees-Mogg has demonstrated a complete lack of empathy. It’s time to show him and his ilk the error of their ways and hit them where it really hurts – at the ballot box.

Disgusted, Glasgow

■ All Rees-Mogg has done is use the wrong two words – rather than ‘common sense’ he should have used ‘natural reaction’. Of course, those poor people in Grenfell Tower were only doing what the fire brigade had told them to do, which happened to be wrong. But being an opinionated high-profile politician and an upper-class rent-a-gob – and in today’s climate of every word being scrutinised like never before – he will pay for not choosing his words with more ‘common sense’.

Paul Buckland, Edinburgh

■ If, as sycophantic Tory backbencher Andrew Bridgen says, Jacob Rees-Mogg is dazzlingly intelligent, how come he is so good at putting his foot in it?

He now claims he meant to say that if he was in Grenfell he too would have followed the advice of the fire service in staying put. But he originally said that it was just common sense to leave the burning building and it was a shame that victims didn’t use common sense. That is a remarkable feat of garbled communication.

Sian. Bristol

■ Rees-Mogg has shown his true colours with his offensive and conceited comment. If he had any decency he would resign.

Pete, Essex