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| John McDonnell: Grenfell victims 'murdered by political decisions' | John McDonnell: Grenfell victims 'murdered by political decisions' |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Labour's John McDonnell has claimed victims of the Grenfell Tower fire were "murdered" by "political decisions". | Labour's John McDonnell has claimed victims of the Grenfell Tower fire were "murdered" by "political decisions". |
| The shadow chancellor made the claims at an event at Glastonbury Festival on Sunday - a day after Jeremy Corbyn addressed thousands of people there. | The shadow chancellor made the claims at an event at Glastonbury Festival on Sunday - a day after Jeremy Corbyn addressed thousands of people there. |
| Mr McDonnell claimed the decision to "view housing as only for financial speculation" meant the Grenfell Tower victims were "murdered". | Mr McDonnell claimed the decision to "view housing as only for financial speculation" meant the Grenfell Tower victims were "murdered". |
| He also said closing fire stations "contributed" to the deaths. | He also said closing fire stations "contributed" to the deaths. |
| At least 79 people are feared to have died in the fire in west London, which began in the early hours of 14 June. | At least 79 people are feared to have died in the fire in west London, which began in the early hours of 14 June. |
| It's thought the building's recently-installed cladding may have helped the fire to spread. The prime minister ordered a public inquiry on 15 June. | |
| Since then, cladding on 60 high-rise buildings in 25 areas across England has failed fire safety tests. | Since then, cladding on 60 high-rise buildings in 25 areas across England has failed fire safety tests. |
| Mr McDonnell, the MP for Hayes and Harlington, was speaking in a panel debate at the Glastonbury's Left Field event, chaired by Guardian journalist John Harris. | Mr McDonnell, the MP for Hayes and Harlington, was speaking in a panel debate at the Glastonbury's Left Field event, chaired by Guardian journalist John Harris. |
| He said: "Is democracy working? It didn't work if you were a family living on the 20th floor of Grenfell Tower. | He said: "Is democracy working? It didn't work if you were a family living on the 20th floor of Grenfell Tower. |
| "Those families, those individuals - 79 so far and there will be more - were murdered by political decisions that were taken over recent decades. | "Those families, those individuals - 79 so far and there will be more - were murdered by political decisions that were taken over recent decades. |
| "The decision not to build homes and to view housing as only for financial speculation rather than for meeting a basic human need made by politicians over decades murdered those families. | "The decision not to build homes and to view housing as only for financial speculation rather than for meeting a basic human need made by politicians over decades murdered those families. |
| "The decision to close fire stations and to cut 10,000 fire fighters and then to freeze their pay for over a decade contributed to those deaths inevitably, and they were political decisions." | "The decision to close fire stations and to cut 10,000 fire fighters and then to freeze their pay for over a decade contributed to those deaths inevitably, and they were political decisions." |
| A source close to Mr McDonnell confirmed the quotes were accurate. | A source close to Mr McDonnell confirmed the quotes were accurate. |
| After the Grenfell fire, the Metropolitan Police said cladding and insulation failed safety tests. | After the Grenfell fire, the Metropolitan Police said cladding and insulation failed safety tests. |
| Cladding is now being tested from up to 600 tower blocks across England. | Cladding is now being tested from up to 600 tower blocks across England. |
| On Sunday, the government reported that cladding on 60 high-rise buildings across 25 local authority areas in England had failed safety tests. | On Sunday, the government reported that cladding on 60 high-rise buildings across 25 local authority areas in England had failed safety tests. |
| No cladding sample has passed the tests so far. | No cladding sample has passed the tests so far. |
| Over the weekend, Camden Council evacuated 650 people from four tower blocks in Swiss Cottage area, after London Fire Brigade raised concerns about cladding, gas pipe insulation, and fire doors. | Over the weekend, Camden Council evacuated 650 people from four tower blocks in Swiss Cottage area, after London Fire Brigade raised concerns about cladding, gas pipe insulation, and fire doors. |
| The four blocks were renovated by Rydon between 2006 and 2009 - the same company which oversaw the refurbishment of Grenfell Tower from 2015 to 2016. | The four blocks were renovated by Rydon between 2006 and 2009 - the same company which oversaw the refurbishment of Grenfell Tower from 2015 to 2016. |