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Stormzy joins backlash against Rees-Mogg over Grenfell apology Stormzy joins backlash against Rees-Mogg over Grenfell apology
(32 minutes later)
Rapper attacks cabinet minister for saying fire victims should have used ‘common sense’Rapper attacks cabinet minister for saying fire victims should have used ‘common sense’
Attempts by the Conservative politician Jacob Rees-Mogg to draw a line under remarks stating that the victims of the Grenfell fire lacked “common sense” have drawn a furious reaction from survivors and campaigners. Tory politician Jacob Rees-Mogg found himself at the receiving end of an excoriating attack by British rapper Stormzy ahead of the government’s general election launch over ill-judged comments he made about Grenfell Tower victims not using their “common sense” to escape the blaze.
The rapper Stormzy joined relatives, including the nephew of a Grenfell Tower victim who died after being told to stay put by the London fire brigade, in angrily dismissing the cabinet ministerfor remarks he made stating that victims did not use “common sense” and leave the burning building. The award-winning musician, who famously used his Brit awards performance in 2018 to criticise Theresa May over her response to the fire, said Rees-Mogg has insinuated that those who “lost their lives weren’t smart enough to escape” and called on him to resign.
The leader of the House of Commons issued “a profound apology” after he told a radio interviewer: “I think if either of us were in a fire, whatever the fire brigade said, we would leave the burning building. It just seems the common sense thing to do.” Stormzy’s public beration of the MP unleashed a blizzard of negative publicity for the Tory government just 24 hours before Boris Johnson’s general election campaign launch in the Midlands.
His comments sparked a wave of revulsion. Karim Mussihly, whose uncle, Hesham Rehman, 57, died in the fire, said Rees-Mogg was an “idiot” whose remarks revealed the detachment of the government from the Grenfell community. The rapper joined relatives, including the nephew of a Grenfell Tower victim who died after being told to stay put by the London fire brigade, in angrily dismissing the Rees-Mogg, who serves as Leader of the Commons and is Tory candidate for North East Somerset.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said his words were “crass and insensitive”.
Matt Wrack, the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) general secretary, said it is “callously irresponsible” for a senior government figure to suggest that the public should ignore firefighters when they are in a fire.Rees-Mogg was forced to issued “a profound apology” after he told a radio interviewer: “I think if either of us were in a fire, whatever the fire brigade said, we would leave the burning building. It just seems the common sense thing to do.”
Karim Mussihly, whose uncle, Hesham Rehman, 57, died in the fire, said the senior Tory was an “idiot” whose remarks revealed the detachment of the government from the Grenfell community.
“The apology is too late,” he told the Guardian. “Sorry means nothing. It’s such an easy word to say. Your action means something but we have had words and no action.”“The apology is too late,” he told the Guardian. “Sorry means nothing. It’s such an easy word to say. Your action means something but we have had words and no action.”
The Justice 4 Grenfell group described Rees-Mogg’s original comments as “appalling” and Jeremy Corbyn called them as “crass” and “insensitive”. The Justice 4 Grenfell group described Rees-Mogg’s original comments as “appalling”.
“What possesses someone to react to an entirely avoidable tragedy like Grenfell by saying the victims lacked common sense?” the Labour leader tweeted. Corbyn Tweeted: “What possesses someone to react to an entirely avoidable tragedy like Grenfell by saying the victims lacked common sense?”
Stormzy, who has been a long-term supporter of the Grenfell survivors and spoke out against Theresa May’s response to the disaster, called on Rees-Mogg to resign, tweeting: “These politicians are actual aliens.” Stormzy, who has been a long-term supporter of the Grenfell survivors, called on Rees-Mogg to resign and issued a string of Tweets on the incident.
He Tweeted: “These politicians are actual aliens.”
“Bare [so many] of you politicians are evil and wicked and this is why we hate you,” he said. “72 people died in a tragedy that you are to blame for … This ain’t about politics, it’s about the people who govern us lacking the most basic humanity or empathy. It’s nuts to me.”“Bare [so many] of you politicians are evil and wicked and this is why we hate you,” he said. “72 people died in a tragedy that you are to blame for … This ain’t about politics, it’s about the people who govern us lacking the most basic humanity or empathy. It’s nuts to me.”
“Let’s bare in mind for 2 secs how horrifying and terrifying the situation would of been for the victims. Deep that for 2 secs.
“And then imagine they’re being instructed by fire fighters - trusted government authorities - to stay put. This scumbag is saying “well boy you lot are dumb to of listened then” can you imagine ?!!!!”
Anger at Rees-Mogg was compounded when it emerged on Tuesday that the government had placed the builder that oversaw the disastrous refurbishment of Grenfell on an official list of firms recommended to public sector bodies seeking builders for high-rise housing in the south of England.Anger at Rees-Mogg was compounded when it emerged on Tuesday that the government had placed the builder that oversaw the disastrous refurbishment of Grenfell on an official list of firms recommended to public sector bodies seeking builders for high-rise housing in the south of England.
That decision added “insult to injury”, according to Grenfell United, the bereaved and survivors’ group, and shocked many in the community less than a week after the chairman of the public inquiry into the disaster concluded the London fire brigade’s planning was “gravely inadequate” and that the building works broke building regulations.That decision added “insult to injury”, according to Grenfell United, the bereaved and survivors’ group, and shocked many in the community less than a week after the chairman of the public inquiry into the disaster concluded the London fire brigade’s planning was “gravely inadequate” and that the building works broke building regulations.
The prime minister, Boris Johnson, said he accepted the report and promised: “Where action is called for, action will follow.”The prime minister, Boris Johnson, said he accepted the report and promised: “Where action is called for, action will follow.”
”It makes me so angry,” Mussihly said. “The detachment from the politicians in this government is still alive. This tragedy was supposed to shake and awake this nation. Two and a half years on, these types of comments from a cabinet minister should not exist. People like my uncle couldn’t leave the tower even if they wanted to and was told on several occasions firefighters were coming to get him. He took comfort in that. Did he not use his common sense? They are still detached. They are still clueless.””It makes me so angry,” Mussihly said. “The detachment from the politicians in this government is still alive. This tragedy was supposed to shake and awake this nation. Two and a half years on, these types of comments from a cabinet minister should not exist. People like my uncle couldn’t leave the tower even if they wanted to and was told on several occasions firefighters were coming to get him. He took comfort in that. Did he not use his common sense? They are still detached. They are still clueless.”
Sir Martin Moore-Bick, who is leading the Grenfell inquiry, said more lives could have been saved if the London fire brigade dropped its “stay put” policy sooner as they tried to tackle the blaze.Sir Martin Moore-Bick, who is leading the Grenfell inquiry, said more lives could have been saved if the London fire brigade dropped its “stay put” policy sooner as they tried to tackle the blaze.
Many remained in their flats for several hours as the fire tore through the building and were trapped by heat and smoke. It emerged that 55 of the 72 people who died in the fire were told to remain in their homes.Many remained in their flats for several hours as the fire tore through the building and were trapped by heat and smoke. It emerged that 55 of the 72 people who died in the fire were told to remain in their homes.
In his apology, Rees-Mogg said: “What I meant to say is that I would have also listened to the fire brigade’s advice to stay and wait at the time. However, with what we know now and with hindsight I wouldn’t and I don’t think anyone else would.In his apology, Rees-Mogg said: “What I meant to say is that I would have also listened to the fire brigade’s advice to stay and wait at the time. However, with what we know now and with hindsight I wouldn’t and I don’t think anyone else would.
“I would hate to upset the people of Grenfell if I was unclear in my comments. With hindsight and after reading the report no one would follow that advice. That’s the great tragedy.”“I would hate to upset the people of Grenfell if I was unclear in my comments. With hindsight and after reading the report no one would follow that advice. That’s the great tragedy.”
The fire, on 14 June 2017, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea was the biggest single loss of life in London since the second world war.The fire, on 14 June 2017, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea was the biggest single loss of life in London since the second world war.
The shadow secretary of state for housing, John Healey, said it was shocking for Rees-Mogg to suggest that those who died in the Grenfell Tower fire lacked “common sense”.The shadow secretary of state for housing, John Healey, said it was shocking for Rees-Mogg to suggest that those who died in the Grenfell Tower fire lacked “common sense”.
He said: “They were told to stay where they were by the fire service, who were acting on national guidelines..”He said: “They were told to stay where they were by the fire service, who were acting on national guidelines..”
The Lib Dem candidate for Kensington and Chelsea, Sam Gyimah, said the comments were insensitive and disgraceful.The Lib Dem candidate for Kensington and Chelsea, Sam Gyimah, said the comments were insensitive and disgraceful.
The victims of Grenfell included six members of the same family, the Choucairs, and five members of the Hashim family, who all lived on the 22nd floor. The youngest victim was a six-month old baby, Leena Belkadi. Baby Logan Gomes was stillborn in hospital on 14 June.The victims of Grenfell included six members of the same family, the Choucairs, and five members of the Hashim family, who all lived on the 22nd floor. The youngest victim was a six-month old baby, Leena Belkadi. Baby Logan Gomes was stillborn in hospital on 14 June.