Re: Huge fire at West London tower block
 

I think you'll find it is due to how badly K&C Council were handling it.

Responsibility for taking care of survivors transferred to new response team after criticism of Kensington and Chelsea

Re: Huge fire at West London tower block
 

Now there's an idea!

Re: Huge fire at West London tower block
 

HMG has been forced to step in as a result of the chaos which has unfolded in Kensington and the desperate need to get something done about a disaster problem which the LA clearly couldn't cope with. Corbyn is telling everyone Labour care more about the homeless yet his party have done very little about the problems I highlighted whether the homeless in general or the conditions within these tower blocks which at least the LA concerned were trying to improve even if it all went terribly wrong. What was that block like when Labour were in Government for 13 years. If it was such an important cause why was it left for the evil Tories to undertake? If the last Labour government had passed the law and got on with the job there'd have been no need for this refurbishment and the use of flammable materials would have been outlawed.

Why on earth would a serious party leader recommend seizing property, with all the complicated legal (and other) ramifications and huge costs that would have, when it would be far easier/quicker and make more sense just to rent accommodation for the families concerned until suitable permanent housing be found? He's done it for one reason only, to stir up more us v them hatred in just the same way as they've done countless times in my lifetime. The sort of hatred in which buildings are burned and ironically people could have died. I hope his totally irresponsible stirring doesn't turn out to cost lives too.

If Corbyn's going to tell us that Labour would do it all differently he'll have to explain why they didn't do that all before not just whine on and on about what the Tories should be doing in the immediate aftermath of a disaster.

Re: Huge fire at West London tower block
 

Yes, but why do the government now feel the need to give the residents £5,500? I'm struggling to see the link between the failure of the local (Conservative?) council and the need for central government to wade in with handfuls of cash. The response of the LHA has been disgusting and changes need to be made there but why are we giving away money? Re-house yes but you buy insurance to cover you for things like this.

And I think you know why Labour didn't do anything radical during their last administration - they were quite a different flavour to the Labour party we've got today.


---------- Post added at 19:30 ---------- Previous post was at 19:29 ----------

Very badly handled but that doesn't explain the need to hand out cash.

Cheers

Dave

Re: Huge fire at West London tower block
 

I wonder if everyone whose home burns down is now entitled to £5,500 ?

Perhaps the Insurance companies will now deduct that sum from any insurance claim.


Some interesting comments from a BBC report ;

Re: Huge fire at West London tower block
 

It's not just the last Labour administration though is it, I'm old enough to recall all the broken dreams and promises of Labour governments dating back to Harold Wilson so please don't assume Bliar's time is my sole benchmark when judging Labour. They have always talked the talk yet either failed to deliver or virtually ruined the economy with their ineptitude and pathetic us V them dogma which frankly belongs back in the last century along Arthur Scargill, Red Robbo, Derek Hatton and the rest of the red loonies.

There's nothing different about Corbyn - he's been playing the same old tune for decades for anyone old enough to remember. The same old hate filled us v. them garbage which is perennially used to cover up Labour's failings.

Re: Huge fire at West London tower block
 

I understand you have the odd issue with the Labour party but I'd still be interested to know why you seem to feel only the Labour party are trying to make political hey from what we hopefully both agree is a tragedy. Do you not feel the government giving money to those affected could fall in to the same category - especially after the response during the first few days that was nothing more than a fiasco? If the Local Authority had of stepped up on day 1 do you seriously think the hand-outs would have been forthcoming? The only difference is the Conservatives have been pushed in to trying to score some points because of dithering ineptitude and someone somewhere has come up with £5million as a figure that they hope will be the smallest amount required to buy themselves out of the hole they've been digging.

Cheers

Dave

Re: Huge fire at West London tower block
 

It must have been seriously tempting to do absolutely nothing since anything they do there will always be someone to moan/complain about it. ;)

Re: Huge fire at West London tower block
 

Couldn't agree more, just as there will always be people who dance around the issue without answering the question ;)


Cheers


Dave

Re: Huge fire at West London tower block
 

Apparently, because of the demographics of the people living in this tower block, it has transpired that there was overcrowding and that illegal immigrants were living there.

There is to be an amnesty so that these people can come forward to claim the money that they are 'owed'!

I wonder if the owners of the Titanic paid out compensation to any stowaways?

Meanwhile, there were/are London born people living on the streets/forced out of the capital...

Re: Huge fire at West London tower block
 

Good point!

Re: Huge fire at West London tower block
 

There should be no amnesty and no payments to illegal immigrants and even the thought of that demonstrates why this country is becoming a joke. From what I've read so far it was a tenant on the fourth floor responsible for the fire and they just left without raising the alarm great neighbour there. The decisions that led to that cladding need to be asked and answered but we also have to look at responsibility that may lie with the tenants as well, I've been to tower blocks before where doors were wedged open and smoke detectors disabled because people wanted to smoke in comfort. There is definately blame and responsibility within the council but at this stage all avenues of blame and responsibility need to be looked at.

Re: Huge fire at West London tower block
 

Adele turned up at a fire station that battled the fire, she knocked on their window loaded with cakes for a chat and cuddle.

http://news.sky.com/story/adele-visi...uddle-10921070

Re: Huge fire at West London tower block
 

I'm trying to work out how a claimed 600 people would fit into a total of 225 bedrooms, in mainly 1 or 2 bedroom flats.

Re: Huge fire at West London tower block
 

Not sure how accurate the 600 people figure is but there were many families in that block. Children could share a room etc.