Anger as Labour announces Grenfell Tower demolition

A protest demands justice for Grenfell on the day the inquiry’s report was published in September (Picture: Guy Smallman)

The Labour government has announced that it will demolish Grenfell Tower without the agreement of survivors and bereaved families. It is yet another injustice for the victims.

The tower block in Kensington, west London, erupted into flames in June 2017. The fire killed 72 people—but it was social murder caused by corruption and corporate greed.

Deputy prime minister and housing secretary Angela Rayner told families and survivors on Wednesday evening.

Moyra Samuels, a campaigner in north Kensington, told Socialist Worker, “Grenfell is so symbolic. When the tower is taken down, the issue is people think it will be forgotten.

“We’re mindful that the tower is a tombstone, it’s a grave because of the fierceness of the fire. For some people, only their ashes remain in the tower.

“There has to be recognition that the tower is a cemetery for many of the bereaved and survivors.”

The government has said it will build a memorial in the place of the tower. But, Moyra said, people are angry that the tower is being demolished “without a criminal case”.

In September, the second phase of the Grenfell inquiry concluded that the deaths occurred partly through “dishonestly and greed”. But prosecutions won’t begin until 2026.

“You take the tower down before we have a criminal case—of course that will rile people,” Moyra said.

The bereaved and survivors of Grenfell have slammed the government’s decision as “disgraceful and unforgivable”.

Survivors group Grenfell United said, “We’ve said this to every secretary of state for housing since the very beginning—consult the bereaved and survivors meaningfully before reaching a decision on the tower.

“Angela Rayner could not give a reason for her decision to demolish the tower.”

But while the government has ignored bereaved and survivors of the fire, Moyra said it has maintained a “divide and rule strategy”. “There isn’t a community wide get-together to actually agree what’s best for all,” she explained.

“The beavered and survivors are part of our community. We also need to look at the best interest of the community who live under the tower.

“There has to be a practical response to the fact that there’s a community, 750 families, living around that tower. 

“There has to be closure for them. And for the wider community—how much dust will there be? What will be the noise level? How long will it actually take?”

Until all those responsible for the social murder of 72 people are held properly accountable, there can be no justice for Grenfell.