“Let’s not only work to bring about justice for those who lost their homes and their lives – but also bring about an end to the austerity, gentrification, outsourcing and privatisation, the inequality and the disregard that led to the tragedy.”
Daniel Kebede, NEU General Secretary
By Patrick Foley, Labour Outlook
Today marks 7 years on from Grenfell Tower Tragedy. A range of voices have marked the day by remembering those lost and those affected by the tragedy; by calling for future safeguards so that the horrific scenes are never repeated; and by demanding that the outcomes of public inquiries – like those into Grenfell – are acted on by the next government, with those responsible brought to account.
Grenfell United, the voice and campaign for the survivors and bereaved families of Grenfell is marking the day by holding a vigil at the Notting Hill Methodist Church at 6pm, remembering the 72 men, women and children so tragically lost during the disaster.
Former Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott and Labour’s parliamentary candidate for Hackney North and Stoke Newington was amongst those speaking up for the Grenfell victims today: “The outcomes of inquiries into these terrible disasters should have been treated as lessons learnt, compensation made, and a determination to ensure never again. They still can.”
Matt Wrack, General Secretary of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) laid a wreath at Grenfell Tower on behalf of all FBU members to commemorate those lives lost in the tragedy.
The FBU continues to stand in solidarity with the survivors and the bereaved and their ongoing fight for justice, labelling the fire “a preventable tragedy was a crime committed by politicians and corporations.”
Bell Ribeiro-Addy, Labour candidate for Clapham & Brixton Hill, also voiced her support for the Grenfell community in their fight for accountability and justice.
Ahead of the anniversary of the tragedy, former Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell voiced his fears that the lessons of Grenfell have not been learnt.
Dawn Butler, Labour’s Candidate for Brent East, paid tribute to survivors and families fighting for justice and marked the day with a call that “justice delayed is justice denied.”
Disability Rights UK, the UK’s leading disabled peoples’ organisation, called on the next government to ensure that disabled people have a right to emergency evacuation plans – as highlighted in their General Election manifesto.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan paid tribute by reaffirming his support for the local communities’ struggle for justice.
National Education Union (NEU) General Secretary Daniel Kebede called for justice for those who lost their lives, loved ones and their homes – but also spoke of the need to “bring about an end to the austerity, gentrification, outsourcing and privatisation, the inequality and the disregard that led to the tragedy.”
Kim Johnson, Labour PPC for Liverpool RiversideI, paid tribute to the victims, the survivors and the emergency workers who responded.
Jeremy Corbyn’s Peace and Justice Project challenged the Government’s failure to end the “scourge” of dangerous cladding and showed solidarity with the community and their continued struggle for justice.
With recent inquiries into the infected blood scandal, the Horizon Post Office scandal and others showing the delays to justice communities have faced, it’s clear that the Grenfell community needs continued support from those in the labour and trade union movement and beyond. Their fight is our fight.
- You can find out more about Grenfell United and support their struggle for Justice here.
- You can follow Grenfell United on Facebook, Twitter/X and Instagram.
