Grenfell Mediawatch Report: a Split Borough February 2018 Grenfell Media Watch Report – February 2018

Ligali Organisation Grenfell MediaWatch Report: A Split Borough February 2018 Grenfell Media Watch Report – February 2018

In remembrance of the Grenfell community including victims, survivors, family and friends

Fair Use Notice: This is a not-for-profit publication for educational use only and may include images that have not always been specifically authorised by the copyright owner.

Grenfell Media Watch Report – February 2018

Conte nts

Introduction ...... 4 Media Trends ...... 7 The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea: A split borough ...... 8 Sixteen of the worst… ...... 17 Freedom of Information Request: Operation Northleigh ...... 29 Public Inquiry: Notes from Procedural Hearing ...... 31 Recommendations ...... 33

Produced by the Grenfell MediaWatch Team: Amma, Angie, Anu, Dawn, Illana, Isis, Jay, Oleander, Sophia, Toyin

Please contact us if you would like to provide feedback or collaborate. February 2018 Edition, Rev 1

Grenfell Media Watch Report – February 2018

“Yo Theresa May, where’s the money for Grenfell?" “What, you thought we just forgot about Grenfell? You criminals, and you’ve got the cheek to call us savages, you should do some jail time, you should pay some damages, you should burn your house down and see if you can manage this.”

Stormzy (Michael Omari), February 2018

Grenfell Media Watch Report – February 2018

Introduction Greetings, less than eight months have passed since that tragic day at Grenfell. Yet, with each passing month we have watched as the history which was held in our collective memories has slowly been changed into a new narrative. On one side we have a raw reminder of the cost to life and suffering of those living in unsecure, social homes resulting from decades of profit before people policy. On the other side we have amoral tale of the lazy undeserving poor, illegal immigrants all jealous of the successes of others, a group that irrationally characterises acts of political charity as expressions of fake condolences and empty promises.

Today we live in a world where the widespread availability of calculators and computers means our focus on numeracy has fallen. Despite this, there remains much emphasis on us having good literacy. For many reasons, the need to read and write words still feels important. However, with the rise of social media and the spreading of terms like ‘fake news’ there is one personal skill that we need to develop more than ever - our media literacy. The gradual demise of email by the rise of instant messaging, news channels and newspaper by online blogs has been revolutionary. The democratisation of access to information caused by sites like YouTube now means anyone can learn about anything. However, this media freedom has also brought about a new frontier with little checks and balances. Whereas the web was a space to research conspiracy theories, it has now become a tool to actively promote them. In the context of Grenfell, we are in an era where populist tabloids like the Mail or Telegraph can use their brand to claim authenticity, whilst publishing outrageous stories online knowing they will be shared and altered with claims unverified. Today the history of Grenfell is being carefully manipulated by politicians and media bodies hell-bent on denying justice for the Grenfell community. By slowly and continuously dripping venomous articles into the public domain, they seek to poison the goodwill shared by so many when the massacre first occurred. Over the past few months the phrase ‘social murder’ has become ‘corporate manslaughter’, and more recently it is giving way to softer terms like ‘a tragic accident’ or ‘devastating fire’.

Grenfell Media Watch Report – February 2018

Allegedly, we are a couple of months away from the government inquiries interim report but even if that isn’t delayed to help more people forget, how do we secure justice if we allow words that imply ‘no one is to blame’ to start dominating the discourse? How do we secure justice if it is true that key witnesses continue to face the risk of deportation as the Prime Minister rejects a request to appoint a diverse panel to sit alongside the Inquiry chair Martin Moore-Bick to enrich and fortify the quest for Truth? How do we secure justice when groups like the Equality and Human Rights commission and Grenfell MediaWatch are denied core participant status?

People power is still alive

Thankfully the very same tools that are being used by state agents to manipulate public opinion can also be used to empower. The recent intervention of grime artist Stormzy, saw him expose government failings over Grenfell at the Brits. His celebrity status and powerful performance gave the issue national prominence. Even better, his subsequent tweet calling for wider support of the Grenfell petition saw his fan base help smash its 100,000- signature target overnight. As a result, Parliament ‘may’ consider debating the request for calling on Prime Minister Theresa May “to exercise her powers under the Inquiries Act 2005 to appoint additional panel members with decision making power to sit alongside Chair in Grenfell Tower Inquiry”.

So, perhaps we all have to remember words and numbers, like “RS5000” the code for the insulation product used in the cladding, and “BS 8414:2 the British standards code for a test that should have revealed it to be flammable.

To ensure we never forget the human costs of this injustice, this month’s report includes interviews with some of the residents currently living through the aftermath of Grenfell. For many it has become too easy to forget the split character of Kensington and Chelsea which offers a vibrant life of opportunity and security for some and unwarranted risk and disadvantage for others. It is important to always remember that there are real people at the centre of this complex story of political negligence, greed and corruption.

Grenfell Media Watch Report – February 2018

In this report we also share the response from the Metropolitan Police to our freedom of information request into the £38 million they have requested for ‘Operation Northleigh’ and a digestible breakdown of the public inquests first procedural hearing. Finally, we also list of some of the media stories showcasing the worst of humanity in some of the media coverage from over the past few months. We hope you find it useful, thank you for reading. Peace, Love and Justice Grenfell MediaWatch Team

Government Investigations Social Community Media Response & Justice Response Agendas Reports (Requiring Public (Including Non-MSM) Support)

Public Inquiry Met Police Criminal Reparation (local) Projects Hostile Martin Moore Bick Investigation Community Initiatives Daily Mail Contributors (Operation Reparation (national) Community Groups LBC Core Participants Northleigh): Community Voices The Sunday Express Family support Kids on the Green The Daily Telegraph Corporate & Permanent housing The Sun individual Distribution of The Times manslaughter donations BBC* Politicians charges Protect mental health Community Ensure fire safety Champions Reflective/Alternative Cost Focused MPs 383 companies Protect community Channel 4 197 officers assets Justice4Grenfell The Guardian People Focused MPs Air quality checks Grenfell United Independent Equality & Human Grenfell Speaks Huffington Post Rights Commission RT (Following Grenfell) Community Spaces The Canary The Village (Acklam) Double Down News Elizabeth Prochaska The City TeleSur - Director Legal The College (Wornington) Building Regulations: Dame Judith Hackett

Legal Review of Housing Law: Bristol & Kent university

Panel Experts Coroner’s Report: Local Businesses Assessors Dr Fiona Wilxox Lawyers

Grenfell Media Watch Report – February 2018

Media Trends

GRENFELL RELATED TRENDS AND THEMES WE HAVE NOTICED IN THE MEDIA OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS.

1. Widespread use of the ‘71’ death toll figure 2. The division of surviving Grenfell Community into bereaved, families and neighbours 3. No front-page coverage given to Grenfell related stories 4. Minimal focus on ‘Operation Northleigh’ (police criminal investigation). 5. Poor media scrutiny of RBKC ineffectiveness at assisting Grenfell survivors 6. Repeated assertion that activists don’t represent ‘mainstream’ Kensington residents 7. Accusation that survivors continue to refuse suitable offers of accommodation 8. Government failing to provide local councils with funds to secure potentially unsafe tower blocks in the UK 9. Increase in reports about post traumatic trauma of Grenfell rescuers/helpers 10. A decrease in coverage of stories highlighting self-help efforts by residents 11. A failure to investigate competence of forensic approach of police/coroner 12. The continuing failure to address concerns about unnamed deceased 13. Better coverage of other tower block residents facing similar fire risks 14. Media attacks on activists and supporters of the Grenfell community. 15. No sustained media focus on the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s “Following Grenfell” investigation.

Grenfell Media Watch Report – February 2018

The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea: A split borough

If you talk to the residents of Lancaster West Estate, years of neglect, indifference and marginalisation meted out by RBKC meant that for them, the Grenfell tragedy was inevitable. They cite the callous indifference towards the warnings about the safety of the tower, the exclusion on key decisions such as the building of the new academy in front of the tower; to its rapid superficial renovation using flammable materials to appear more pleasing to the eyes of the borough’s wealthier residents, as key examples of how inequality and marginalisation that has been ingrained in council policy. This dysfunctional entrenchment has also contributed to the deliberate creation of a rich/poor divide in the borough. Despite this, the community maintains a strength, determination and a cohesion that persists. In the hours following the fire, and the subsequent months, it has held itself together, supporting the victims and their families. This has happened while the borough has struggled to demonstrate any empathy or provide adequate support. The community has taken, and is taking, care of its own. We spoke to two residents of Lancaster West Estate, asking them to give their accounts of that terrible night, how people are coping, or not coping, and what they hope for the future, in terms of justice. We also asked them to give some context to the tragedy. What they reveal is a tale of a borough split down the middle – North Kensington and South Kensington, with stark differences between them, in terms of how they are served by the local authority. These two residents cite the erosion of public services, and the gradual way residents are being removed from a borough that by all accounts, the council is keen to cleanse to attract wealthy residents. Certainly, they have been assisted in this endeavour via the negative representations in the media of people on lower incomes, receiving benefits and living in social housing. This social prejudice has resulted in a toxic backlash of anyone who mentions that they lived in Grenfell Tower, or in the surrounding homes. For that reason, we have withheld the names of these two residents to protect them, and their families’ identities. Their accounts are important because their voices must be heard if there is any hope of fundamental changes being made in how RBKC is being governed, ensuring that a tragedy like this never happens again.

Grenfell Media Watch Report – February 2018

Paula* I’ve lived on the Lancaster West Estate for 28 years. It was a happy place, which has housed generations of families. It was a welcoming environment to live in, and mostly we all knew each other. When new people moved in, they stayed to be a part of our community. We felt safe, as neighbours looked out for each other, and looked after your home when you were away. When I moved here in 1988, a doctor’ surgery and social services were situated in Grenfell Tower, which were adjacent to the council offices and Grenfell Creche. The council offices were renovated just after the closing down of the doctor’s surgery, and the offices moved to the base of the tower. The whole estate was renovated, and we had CCTV attached to the entry systems on all the walkway entrances. The system was operated by security guards in the base of Grenfell tower. Soon after, the Estate Management Board (EMB) was launched. The EMB was run by tenants of Lancaster West Estate. We held voluntary positions alongside council staff which comprised of the Area Review Board (ARB), Residents Association (RA), and tenants had the role of treasurer and chairperson. The council there dealt with queries to do with rent, repairs and housing needs. When the EMB was dismantled for reasons I do not know, the TMO (Tenant Management Organisation) took over. I was made aware of this by chance. I called one day requesting repairs, and I was asked who I paid rent to. For me to be put through to the right service I needed to quote my address which determined whether it was served by RBKC (Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea) or TMO (Tenant Management Organisation). I was TMO. From this moment, the way that issues in my property were dealt with can be described as poor.

We experienced problems with leaky ceilings, leaky pipes, heating and hot water, carbon monoxide and asbestos. Getting repairs was a nightmare; waiting times on the phones were poor let alone the length of time we had to wait to get jobs done. It was further confused by the number of different contractors attending your property to carry out mostly unsatisfactory jobs, which meant they had to be repeated within short time spans after the initial repair. Nevertheless, Lancaster West maintained that unbreakable community spirit with happy families, children growing up and going to school, college, university and to work. In 2015 the Kensington Aldridge Academy was officially opened. It was a beautiful building that sat in the centre of Lancaster West Estate and directly overlooked by the Grenfell Tower. Because of the stark newness of the school, the locals referred

Grenfell Media Watch Report – February 2018

to the area as ‘them and us’. After all, the division was clear. It was the old brick Grenfell Tower building, and the old brick Lancaster West Estate versus the Aldridge Academy. So clearly divided it was, it all looked so wrong, displaced. So much so, it was apparent that change was coming. In 2016 work commenced to renovate Grenfell Tower. I vividly remember how quickly the work was carried out. I would leave for work in the morning, seeing men covering one level and return from work in the evening, to see several floors completed. I thought it looked very nice, with colours that complemented the new school. Once completed, the tower looked pleasing to the eye; but it didn’t seem right because the surrounding buildings were looking even more tired, now they were slums in comparison. I thought, surely, they will be renovating the whole estate. Surely, they must, since my monthly rent was practically a mortgage - the estate deserved to be renovated too. On the 14th June I was awakened by my son at about 1.20am. He ran into my room yelling, Mum, the tower block is on fire! I looked out my window in disbelief to see the whole length, the right side of the tower in flames. I thought we were under attack and told my family to get out. At the same time the police were pounding on doors, saying evacuate, evacuate! My family and I ran for our lives. I stood on the street amongst my neighbours still in their night clothes, crying. I heard telephone conversations [to people in the tower], telling them to get out. We looked up at the tower, watching as the fire engulfed it. I saw people looking through closed windows, others hanging out of windows screaming, help, help! I saw different people on different floors, waving torch lights, waving white towels. I saw people jump out of windows and large parts of building material burning and falling. We all stood for hours and hours watching the fire. There were ambulances coming and going, taking injured and dead people [away]. Reporters were positioned almost everywhere. I saw reporters from all over the world, Germany, France, Belgium, Spain China, Australia, New Zealand, who asked us to give an account of what happened. We were thirsty and had nothing to drink for a few hours – there was no help given to those who had been evacuated. No one was saying anything, we had nowhere to go, both ends of the street were cordoned off and was not permitted to go near the estate. I wondered how the fire service got close to the tower because the street had been blocked off for weeks due to a leaking gas pipe. Around 9am, we were directed to the Harrow Club and given drinks and sandwiches. But about midday we were evacuated from there because [of fears that the] tower would collapse. I saw volunteers everywhere, people offering food 10

Grenfell Media Watch Report – February 2018

water and clothing. From there we were directed to the Rugby Club but there was no space for everyone. We registered ourselves as safe. I saw many more volunteers offering to help with food drinks and clothing while we sat outside the Rugby Club with nowhere to go. We ended up in the local park where we slept on a bench for an hour. About 5.30pm we made our way to St Clements Church where many more volunteers were offered food and clothing. I saw some people who appeared to be from RBKC, who explained that we could not return to the estate and should go and stay with some friends or family members. They provided a cab for me and my family. The initial response to the tragedy was provided by the local community and people from all over the UK, who came out to offer their support. Stalls were set up with food, drink and clothing. In terms of organisations the Rugby Club was the first to provide shelter. The council, however, was nowhere to be seen. Every official I spoke to referred to themselves as volunteers and couldn’t tell us what to do. They told us, we are not from RBKC nor are we TMO. I found this shocking. There we were, not allowed to go back to the estate, and no council representative in sight. Although [the estate was] cordoned off residents were there, grabbing belongings from their homes. I needed my medication. The walkway was completely flooded with water. I waded through and went up to my door. I saw that the main walkways had been burned, and a body bag. My thoughts were that the walkways had been used to park bodies. Panicked, I grabbed my tablets and fled. I heard a young man shout,

“I told the TMO that it [the cladding] was flammable, I showed them, I even burnt it in front of them, they didn’t listen, they knew”. The council [representatives] were nowhere to be seen. Even days after, in the Westway shelter where stalls were provided to address queries on immigration, general advice, the NHS and Shelter, nobody from RBKC or TMO were present. The volunteers were from Essex Council and various places around the UK. I spoke to two very kind housing volunteers who took the time to visit me at a family members home to offer advice and hotel accommodation, and to simply ask how we were. That meant so much as it was obvious that we had been abandoned by RBKC. The only person who made an impact to the tragedy was the Queen. Her heartfelt appearance with her grandsons was the shock the government needed. The council and government’s response were a travesty. My faith in the council depends on how they deal with this crisis. How they address it would have to be based on individual needs, not on what they think those needs are. 11

Grenfell Media Watch Report – February 2018

The focus should be on moving forward with an unbiased approach. My faith can only be restored based on how we are dealt with. In relation to the Grenfell tragedy, justice to me would see individuals holding their hands up, taking full responsibility and be accountable to every part of the investigation in terms of the inquiry and whether I have faith in it depends on how the government respond to the requests of the victims. Whether the police and fire service can be open rather than giving guided responses. Are they being listened to fully? Which actions show that? How will individual families’ needs be addressed? In my opinion, it will be a long and difficult process to support victims and those affected by the Grenfell fire. Some victims are not able to make decisions and do not know how to move forward. Others need help deciding what to do and need reassurance as the question of trust resides in the thought process of many. Needs vary from person to person. But we all want to know is what caused the fire, why did it spread so quickly, why were people instructed to stay put, and why was hydrogen cyanide an approved substance? Also, what was wrong with the gas supply, and why were gas works going on for all those months? Why didn’t the council take residents’ fears seriously regarding the Grenfell renovations? Why were there no sprinklers, why was the only stairwell exit in the tower lined with gas pipes, why did the council add an extra floor to the tower during the renovations, why couldn’t the fire brigade reach people who were trapped on the top floors? Why didn’t helicopters use sprinklers to help control the fire? I think accountability will be the only way for victims to get closure.

Antoinette* I have lived on Lancaster West for 30 years, one of the few people who moved in after they redeveloped the whole site. When I first moved in, I thought it was the bee’s knees, I absolutely loved it. I loved the people who were there, the fact that you had your own front door, it wasn’t a mass of sky rises, it was just a little estate in a lovely area, Ladbroke Grove. People are so close around here, but of course we have some trouble sometimes, but the community was still close, we sort of knew who the enemy was. The enemy was, and is, the local authority, and the police, so basically the establishment. The way RBKC invests in services, North Kensington always gets the short stick - you almost wouldn’t recognise it was the same local authority because the moment you walk out of here from Ladbroke Grove you can see how everything is coiffured, you can see where the investment is, and you walk a little further from that and you have

Grenfell Media Watch Report – February 2018

Kensington High Street and those lavish expensive houses that have always been the pride and joy of the borough, the streets are regularly cleaned, where North Kensington is forgotten. I remember seeing one the first Black newspapers that came out which said that North Kensington has always been the boil on the arse of the borough of Kensington and Chelsea and we should strive to make sure that they never forget it. There was no investment going on, children’s services were almost non- existent so there were things put in place by the community to support each other. The one or two community centres that we had, over the years they have all been taken back by the local authority. It literally dragged them down into extinction. They are looking at taking the libraries and selling them to private enterprises, like the college, they’ve sold that to developers, they are building high rise developments that none of the residents could ever afford or enter, if they did they’d be going in through the back door. So instead of going forwards we are going backwards, looking like that old programme Upstairs Downstairs, where the poor section comes from the back door and that would be North Kensington. The policies that [the council] have always used has been to try and shove us out, and because the people of North Kensington are mostly immigrant communities that came and settled here, they have dug in hard and fast and said you must recognise that we’re here. We, like anyone else in the country, pay our taxes, we want a service, we want provision. We’re not asking, we’re demanding because it’s our right to have that provision. But any time they do anything in North Kensington it’s always second best, even the schools. I remember going to a meeting about the placement of Kensington Aldridge Academy. Before they put the academy there the council underestimated the number of children that would attend secondary school – the only other secondary school was Holland Park. When they decided they wanted to place the academy right by the estate we said, you can’t put it there, there’s a tower block right there, if you put it there you will have to use up all the emergency access areas, but it was a foregone conclusion to them, they had decided, and we had no say. They said they had consulted with residents, and we asked, how did you do that? We’re residents and we didn’t take part in this consultation, and some bright spark, said to me, we had problems gaining access to the buildings to deliver leaflets to let you know this is what we were planning to do. We pointed out that these are your properties, how could you not gain access? They couldn’t gain access to say, Grenfell Tower because they didn’t have keys – I remember someone from Grenfell Action campaign group saying, well you should have given them to the pizza man because he manages to get inside the buildings, then we’d all be here. Grenfell Action was quite vociferous in telling them, if you use up the green spaces

Grenfell Media Watch Report – February 2018

where would the emergency services go, but they said yes, it would work we don’t need to have a debate with you about it and that’s when the academy went up. It’s still difficult for me to talk about that night. I was woken by one of our residents; as I opened my door, I just saw bright red, literally, the sky was bright red. I gathered a group of people and we went charging round to Grenfell Tower in about 90 seconds. When we got there the entire side of the building was on fire. Flames were going over the top of the building, and that was about something to one [in the morning]. There was noise from the building, but from nowhere else. The rest of the street was silent, but you could hear people in the building just screaming. There was such a sense of being powerless. The ambulance and the fire brigades had taken over the side next to the school, so they wouldn’t let anyone go in, but they didn’t have a problem with people walking past. Which was strange because there were huge bits of flying debris over our heads. I suddenly realised there was a lot of debris falling over our heads, we hadn’t taken account of it; it was so surreal I think, that we could potentially be in danger because we were so keen to find an entrance. We walked very quickly around – by the time we got around to the other side of the building the debris was flying and we weren’t thinking about it until there was a loud thumping noise – a piece of the cladding had hit the roof of a car and bounced literally in front of me and I realised we had to move from there. It was the oddest place to be – I was there, but I wasn’t there. This wasn’t happening. We walked around to the other side of Grenfell Walk; by that time there were lots of ambulances, there were fire officers that had taken charge. Lots of police, lots of people coming and going. I spent a lot of time around that side of the building…there were people trying to go into the building, they were trying to…get into the building, and I was trying to…my practical side was kicking in and I realised that if we were going in we were going to create an even worse situation because the fire brigade and the police officers would be concentrating on us, rather than the people in the building, you’re standing there and there are all these people trying to get into the building. The council’s response [to the fire] was non-existent. That night, the community was out in force, and they have been ever since. The council’s attitude was, it’s North Kensington, they can do for themselves. They didn’t show up. They didn’t show up. Certainly the people from the TMO (Tenant Management Organisation) didn’t show up, they knew where we were, they know how to get in touch with us, they failed to establish any access point, like the Methodist church, Rugby Portobello, St Clements, Harrow, all of the essential services around there for youth provision and

Grenfell Media Watch Report – February 2018

community services were open, and they were open from the beginning, but the council, nobody showed up to say, have you got the numbers for Rugby Portobello, can you open up and let people in – they didn’t do anything, we never saw them. The first time I saw someone from the council was three days later, and I thought to myself, you should have been there. If this had happened anywhere else – can you imagine if this happened on Kensington High Street, and they were not there in an hour? It would never happen. Regardless of where you live, they should have been there in an hour – but we never saw them. They didn’t even bother to send one of their junior officials to say look, is there anything you want or need. I think they just saw it was North Kensington, it’s that community, we don’t want them in this community, it’s not a big deal.

I have real difficulty in dealing with council officials because we are treated as if we don’t exist, as if we are irrelevant and unimportant to them. We know that already but that was blatantly shown in the aftermath [of the fire]. It’s four months later and the provision – it’s easy to say that people will get rehoused in three weeks, the reality is that you’re not bothered to push it. Everything that has been given, people have had to fight for it. And you shouldn’t have to fight, when you are so traumatized, that you can’t even look at a building. You will find that if you look around here, the people that look at the building are not residents. The residents don’t look at Grenfell Tower because they are still traumatized. If you look at it, you might remember something you don’t want to remember.

I think the Grenfell tragedy was avoidable. The TMO should have listened to the residents, because supposedly that was why the TMO was set up. But it did everything at arm’s length. Secondly, residents should have been given training as to what exactly a TMO does, so that you managed your own property. But there was no TMO, there was a management organisation, and that’s the hardest bit [of the tragedy]. If the council isn’t listening, if the TMO isn’t listening, why would you waste your time? The council created an atmosphere of apathy. Things were done to the residents, not for the residents. This has never been a council that has done things with the residents. When they do allow you to have a say, it’s after the fact. I don’t have any faith in the inquiry. The reason why is that we have been here before. We had an inquiry into Larkanall House, nothing came out of that. Inquiries don’t make recommendations that are worth salt, because nothing changes. Even if they were to say, we think that sprinklers should be put into all properties retrospectively, the government finds a new way to make sure that doesn’t happen, they come up with alternative legislation - saying that’s not essential to safety. They change the goal posts all the time. They may discover new things in the inquiry, nothing that will be new to the residents, because they have been saying it all along, it might be new to the wider community because they don’t know too much about North Kensington - there is a divide between North and South Kensington and the

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north gets the short end. What I’m hoping for is the wider campaign on social housing to make it not be a dirty word anymore. The community is holding fast. There are a lot of things that aren’t working right now, like council services. A lot is being retracted in terms of what was said would be done e.g. finding people accommodation, people are still living in hotels, people are terrified to go back to where they resided. There are people being forgotten – Lancaster West is the focus, but the surrounding blocks where people witnessed the entire night– they have been forgotten by the local authority, but not the residents. But holding fast is one of the things that North Kensington does very well. I’ve lived other places, and this is the place I love the most. *names changed

Grenfell Media Watch Report – February 2018

Sixteen of the worst…

As part of our work, the Grenfell MediaWatch team reads through many articles each week. Some are opinion pieces, others are blogs or reports. But the bulk of our scrutiny work comes from news articles and government releases. Unsurprisingly many are sympathetic to the plight of the Grenfell community, however there are those that either highlight or represent the ugly undercurrent of resistance to justice sought by the Grenfell community. Below are a few examples of some of the media stories exposing the worst of humanity, as selected by members of the Grenfell MediaWatch team. The situation at the beginning of this tragedy was so bad that a petition was started calling for the “Daily Mail and The Sun remove articles blaming victims for Grenfell Fire”. https://www.change.org/p/sun-and-mail-stop-blaming-victims-of-grenfell-fire Since then most of the offending articles can be classified under one or more of the hideous themes below which include;

Grenfell Media Watch Report – February 2018

1 The Justice4Grenfell agitators: campaign group tries to push Tower inquiry judge to resign (The Telegraph). THE ACTIVIST HIT LIST!

This article published by the Telegraph on 4th July 2017 names six people as key players in Justice4Grenfell and attempts to demonise them as a witch hunting mob. The article includes a short profile on each member.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/07/04/justice4grenfell-agitators-campaign-group- tries-push-tower-enquiry/

2 So no school for you then! (Sky News) HEY, I KNOW LOADS OF PEOPLE DIED BUT I W AS JUST JOKING

This article was published in the Sun on 14 June 2017. It covered the insensitive comments made by a Sky News reporter joking to a young boy and his grandmother immediately after they were made homeless.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/3796774/sky-news-reporter-london-fire-joke-boy- grenfell-tower-video/

Grenfell Media Watch Report – February 2018

3 Awkward questions no one will answer about Grenfell Tower (Daily Mail) LET’S BLAME IT ON IMMIGRATION!

This opinion piece by Richard Littlejohn was published by the Daily Mail on 7th July 2017. Within a couple of weeks of the disaster Littlejohn has seized the opportunity to shift the focus of the tragedy onto immigration claiming:

“What happened at Grenfell Tower isn’t simply about safety, it goes to the very heart of successive governments’ policies on immigration and social housing.

“Ten per cent of those who died are said to be of Moroccan heritage. A further eight per cent were Ethiopian. To describe the residents of this block as a ‘community’ is a stretch. Grenfell Tower was a veritable Disunited Nations.”

In conclusion he says:

“What we do know already, without any need for an inquiry, is that those charged with running our immigration system and ensuring that they know who is actually living in so-called social housing are guilty at the very least of gross dereliction of duty.”

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-4673612/Awkward-questions-no-one-answer- Grenfell-Tower.html#ixzz53mwL9fNb

Grenfell Media Watch Report – February 2018

4 ‘I want a nice place' Ex-Grenfell Tower resident admits rejecting two ‘inadequate’ flats (Sunday Express) THEY’RE UNGRATEFUL BEGGARS!

This article in the Express reports on an interview with BBC Newsnight to imply that the resident is unreasonable for turning down the flats offered to him.

https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/824859/Grenfell-Tower-fire-resident-Earls-Court- Kensington-Chelsea-council

5 'Don't forget they came out of it alive!': Top Tory councillor apologises after slamming Grenfell tower survivors for 'complaining despite getting money, food and housing' (Daily Mail) I’VE NO SYMPATHY FOR PRIVILEGED FREELOADERS!

Daily Mail reported on 7th July 2017 a tweet by Nadia Cenci, leader of the Conservative opposition on Ipswich Council. Cenci is quoted in the article as saying “I've just stopped listening and my sympathy is diminishing - I can't pretend otherwise.” But after deleting her Twitter account she is reported to have said “The anger of the victims is being stirred up by people wanting to politicise what has happened in a bid to bring down the government.”

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4677056/Tory-councillor-agrees-Grenfell- survivors-complaining.html#ixzz53mztx7kr

Grenfell Media Watch Report – February 2018

6 Grenfell: The myths and the facts (Daily Mail) THE TORY FIGHTBACK!

Whilst many articles are published online, some of the most damaging are in print. This one published by the Daily Mail on Saturday 8th July 2017 by Guy Adams was designed for maximum impact.

This extensive article by Guy Adams sought to portray any criticism of government and its housing/safety policy as the hysterical rants of the ‘hard-left’. But in truth it was a surgical political attack on activists, the past and current Labour party and anyone openly supporting the Grenfell community.

Adams starts his article as vacuously as he concludes and writes;

“The victims were ‘murdered by political decisions’ say labour. Austerity was to blame. It was ALL the council’s fault. The death toll’s been supressed. Those are the lurid allegations. Here we calmly sort the facts from the fiction.”

Grenfell Media Watch Report – February 2018

7 Punish Labour MP over ‘token ghetto boy’ slur, black Tory tells Corbyn (Evening Standard) LOL… IT’S NOT RACE CLASS ITS CLASS RACE.

This entry highlights two issues. The first is that of the attempt by conservative politicians to use fake claims of racism to divert focus away from Grenfell. The second is the attempt by the Evening Standard on 14th November 2017 to bury news about an insensitive survey distributed by Kensington, Chelsea & Fulham Conservatives (KCFC) at the bottom of an article criticising the MP for Kensington, Emma Dent Coad, for a social media comment she made as far back as 2010 about Shaun Bailey, a Conservative London Assembly member.

The survey however received widespread reporting by media including the BBC, Daily Mail, Huffington Post and the Sun (image above). http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-41984732 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5077303/Fury-Tory-activists-circulate-survey- Grenfell.html http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/kensington-chelsea-and-fulham-tories-ask-residents- to-rate-grenfell-disaster-from-nought-to-ten_uk_5a0a07e2e4b0bc648a0d32fa https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/4905698/tory-activists-blasted-after-asking-residents-to-rate- how-important-grenfell-disaster-was-to-them-on-a-scale-of-one-to-10/

Grenfell Media Watch Report – February 2018

8 How the far left tried – and failed – to hijack Grenfell (The Times) POLITICAL EXTREMISTS EXPLOITING GRENFELL!

This two paged “investigation” appeared in the Times on 11th December 2017 along with an editorial titled Grenfell’s Grief. The article had four sub-sections.

The campaigners: A critique of Justice4Grenfell which the article says has “angered some locals by taking possession of the slogan it uses as its name.” It criticises Ishmahil Blagrove, describing him as the founder of Justice4Grenfell and calling him the “darling of anti-media radicals.”

The volunteer: Focuses on Tahra Ahmed who is described as being “known to antisemitism watchdogs

The militant link: Cathy Cross is highlighted as “the national campaigns officer for a militant-led trade union” – the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS)

The Kremlin stooges: Accuses RT of seizing “on the Grenfell Tower disaster to try to foment “class war” in Britain”

The spread also includes a “victims, agitators and officials who’s who.” Those listed are:

Grenfell United – described as “the authentic voice of survivors by everyone from Downing Street to local voluntary groups”

Justice4Grenfell – name coordinators of the group Moyra Samuels, Sue Caro and Ishmahil Blagrove - criticise elsewhere in the “investigation”

Grenfell Action Group – described as “a persistent voice for residents of the tower”

Socialist Workers Party – described as the “hard left Trotskyite group” that has “used events such as the monthly silent marches of the bereaved as publicity opportunities”

Kensington and Chelsea Management Organisation (KCTMO) – described as being “responsible for running Grenfell Tower”

Revolutionary Communist Group – described as “small but noisy and persistent Marxist faction”

Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea – described as covering “an area of stark inequality with some of the most expensive homes in the world and some of the poorest neighbourhoods in Britain”. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/how-the-far-left-tried-and-failed-to-hijack-grenfell- rw3d899gg

Grenfell Media Watch Report – February 2018

9 Why are so many plush new homes bought for Grenfell victims still empty? (Daily Mail) UNGRATEFUL SUBLETTING IMMIGRANTS!

The article published by the Daily Mail on 8 December 2017 was written by Sue Reid when it became clear as Christmas approached that the Prime Ministers promise to house all the Grenfell survivors within three weeks would be broken.

Reid’s piece implies that the survivors, nearby residents and members of Grenfell United are all being ungrateful for the opportunity to move into a luxury home and that the problem is complicated by illegal immigrants and rampant sub-letting. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5161577/Sue-Reid-plush-homes-Grenfell-victims- empty.html

10 JustGiving website takes £115,000 fee as Grenfell Tower donors give £2.3m (The Telegraph) AS PUBLIC DONATIONS COME IN THE CHARITY FUNDGRABBERS APPEAR

The Telegraph reports on 16th June 2017 that the JustGiving website took at least £115,000 in fees donated through its website for the families affected by the Grenfell Tower fire. They were not the last of ‘charitable’ organisations to exploit the publics’ generosity towards Grenfell survivors.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/consumer-affairs/just-giving-website-takes-115000- fee-grenfell-tower-donors-give/

Grenfell Media Watch Report – February 2018

11 Company behind Grenfell YouTube film has links to Kremlin (Times) OMG - GRENFELL ACTIVISTS ARE RUSSIAN AGENTS!

This article published on 10 February 2018 by the Times newspaper seeks to capitalise on anti-Russian hysteria by attacking ‘Failed by The State: The Struggle in the Shadow of Grenfell’ ‘- a popular documentary within the Grenfell community. It is implied that the producers of the film who have links to news organisation RT were ‘Kremlin controlled’. The article also attempts to discredit labour MP Emma Dent Coad and popular singer Lily Allen, who appear in the video and both are openly supportive of the Grenfell community. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/company-behind-grenfell-youtube-film-has-links-to- kremlin-k9bqlk6mf

Grenfell Media Watch Report – February 2018

12 Tory Leader blames residents for lack of sprinklers (Daily Mail) WHY PERCEIVED FAILINGS ARE THE FAULT OF THE VICTIMS!

On the 16 June 2017 the Mail reported on this BBC Newsnight interview with Nick Paget-Brown, the Conservative leader of Kensington and Chelsea Council at the time. In the immediate aftermath of the massacre he blames Grenfell Tower residents for the lack of sprinklers in their homes. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/video/news/video-1485049/Tory-leader-Kensington-blames- residents-lack-sprinklers.html

13 CHELSEA SHAME: Made In Chelsea deletes insensitive tweet saying, ‘It always burns’ just days after Grenfell Tower tragedy (The Sun) ANY PUBLICITY IS GOOD PUBLICITY

On 20 June 2017 the Sun published this story revealing the made in Chelsea team’s insensitive tweet seeking to exploit the Grenfell disaster for ratings. https://www.thesun.co.uk/tvandshowbiz/3840614/made-in-chelsea-delete-insensitive-tweet- saying-it-always-burns-just-days-after-grenfell-tower-tragedy/

Grenfell Media Watch Report – February 2018

14 Dramatic Grenfell baby story probably never happened (BBC Newsnight) LA LA LAND?

This story broadcast by the BBC during October 2017, caused much upset. Through its dramatic ‘scientific’ recreations, hounding of witnesses and insensitive approach to investigative journalism it ended up leading a nasty media campaign to smear the credibility of witnesses’ testimony.

15 ‘Homeless’ Grenfell Tower activist Joe Delaney has flat (Sunday Times) HOW DARE YOU CRITICIZE US WHILST WE FEED, SHELTER AND ALMOST BURN YOU ALIVE - KNOW YOUR PLACE!

The Sunday Times and Mail operate as a tag team to launch a smear campaign against Grenfell survivor and one of its leading activists Joe Delaney. Despite the headlines they are careful not to claim that he ever sleeps or lives in his old flat, just that he is ‘using’ it and they have photos of him visiting the area where he used to reside. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/homeless-grenfell-tower-activist-joe-delaney-has-flat- d6gq3n9mv http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5432261/Grenfell-campaigner-hotel-room-uses- home.html

Grenfell Media Watch Report – February 2018

16 STORM BREWING - Who is Stormzy, what was his BRITs 2018 rap about Grenfell Tower and how did Theresa May respond? (Sun) HOW MANY TIMES WILL WE KEEP MISSING THE HEADSHOT WITH THIS UNGRATEFUL GRIMINAL!

Following a public reawakening of Grenfell issues after Brits award winner, Stormzy elevated the community concerns to national level, the Daily Mail and the Sun both decided to try a character assassination on the influential grime artist whilst promoting the government’s response. Amanda Platell of the Daily Mail used a coded anti-immigrant rant to attack Stormzy and his family for exploiting the ‘British dream’. Her Afriphobic bile is matched only by her thinly veiled disdain for single mothers and patronising fawning over working class achievements. The Sun’s editors take a similar approach when addressing the politics. Both tabloids are fully aware his ‘Where’s the money for Grenfell’ comments did not just refer to the ‘regeneration’ (aka gentrification) budget but also to the failure of government to provide funds to local councils enabling them to remove flammable cladding and retrofit sprinklers to tower blocks around the country.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/tvandshowbiz/2868221/stormzy-brit-awards-2018-rap-grenfell- tower-theresa-may-response/

Grenfell Media Watch Report – February 2018

Freedom of Information Request: Operation Northleigh “THE GRENFELL MEDIAWATCH TEAM ISSUED A FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST (REF NO: 2017110001194) WITH FIVE QUESTIONS TO THE METROPOLITAN POLICE AFTER A BBC ARTICLE PUBLISHED ON 4 JANUARY 2018, REVELAED THAT THEY WERE ASKING FOR £38 MILLION TO FUND THE INVESTIGATION. THIS IS THEIR RESPONSE.” GMW FOI REQUESTS

DECISION This email is to inform you that it will not be possible to respond to your request within the cost threshold. This response serves as a Refusal Notice under Section 17 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act). Please see the legal annex for further information on the exemptions applied in respect of your request.

REASONS FOR DECISION

1) THE MONTHLY AND TOTAL NUMBER OF POLICE OFFICERS ALLOCATED BY THE MET TO WORK DIRECTLY ON THE RECOVERY OPERATION AT GRENFELL TOWER BETWEEN 14 JUNE 2017 – 29 NOVEMBER 2017.

2) THE MONTHLY AND TOTAL NUMBER OF POLICE OFFICERS ALLOCATED BY THE MET TO WORK DIRECTLY ON THE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION INTO THE GRENFELL TOWER FIRE BETWEEN 14 JUNE 2017 – 29 NOVEMBER 2017. The number of officers working is difficult to determine – CARMS (Computer Aided Resource Management) is inaccurate as not everyone was shown as posted to Op Northleigh; The figures would change daily, so assessing which OCU’s have had abstractions would be an enormous task that would involve interrogating each entry for each officer on every day that you have requested.

3) THE TOTAL NUMBER OF POLICE OFFICERS WITH DIRECT EXPERIENCE OF INVESTIGATIONS INVOLVING CORPORATE MANSLAUGHTER WORKING ON THE GRENFELL TOW ER FIRE INVESTIGATION SINCE 14 JUNE 2017. To locate and retrieve this information would require a manual read of hundreds of personnel files, further work would also be required to cross reference information with case files.

Grenfell Media Watch Report – February 2018

4) THE OVERALL BUDGET FOR THE GRENFELL TOWER FIRE INVESTIGATION, INCLUDING DETAILS OF PROJECTED AND ESTIMATED COSTS WHERE FINAL AGREEMENTS HAVE NOT BEEN MADE. To fully compile the resources cost data from all the various sources will be a huge task and certainly over the 18-hour cost limit. The information published reflects the figures that the BBC published came from the GLA finance committee – this reflects the amount of money the MPS have asked the Home Office for in connection with Op Northleigh.

5) COPIES OF ANY KEY DOCUMENTS DISCUSSING AND/OR AGREEING THE OVERALL BUDGET FOR THE GRENFELL TOWER FIRE INVESTIGATION, INCLUDING DETAILS OF PROJECTED AND ESTIMATED COSTS WHERE FINAL AGREEMENTS HAVE NOT BEEN MADE. To locate and retrieve key documents discussing and/or agreeing the overall budget for the Grenfell Tower fire investigation would be a huge task, as it would involve interrogation of a multitude of senior officers and Police staff email accounts.

We therefore estimate that the cost of complying with this request would exceed the appropriate limit. The appropriate limit has been specified in regulations and for agencies outside central Government; this is set at £450.00. This represents the estimated cost of one person spending 18 hours [at a rate of £25 per hour] in determining whether the MPS holds the information, and locating, retrieving and extracting the information.

Grenfell Media Watch Report – February 2018

Public Inquiry: Notes from Procedural Hearing WHAT IS A PROCEDURAL HEARING? This deals with case management issues such as considering the time required and arrangements for undertaking of witness statements, disclosure of evidence [including expert evidence], to core participants and the receipt of representation. For those not part of the legal profession, it can be useful to listen in/attend as this is where the legal teams make requests, highlight potential issues and make suggestions. After the Judge has reviewed what is highlighted in these hearings, s/he formalises the findings using the Public Inquiry format. Legal Representatives submit their questions, concerns, highlights and then get up in front of a lectern and read out the highlights of their report to the group in the meeting. The Legal Representatives do not have to get up and speak. They can submit their questions, suggestions, concerns in writing. The core participants can attend this meeting and sit at the back of the room and listen. Laptops may be used in the Inquiry’s hearing rooms and public areas if they do not disturb others, but they may not be used to make live recordings of proceedings. Laptops must be battery-powered as power sockets are not available. Procedural Hearings will take place throughout the Inquiry. At the end of each Procedural Hearing, the Judge reviews and feedbacks to the Hearing within agreed timeframe mentioned at the end of the Procedural Hearing. https://www.grenfelltowerinquiry.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/What-is-a-procedural- hearing_-.pdf

11 and 12 December Procedural Hearing – Some highlighted points:

 Recommending that core participants be able to ask questions which raises something that is essential to them [not a duplicated question], as they are passive [silent]. Should form part of the supplementary information submitted.  Core participants should have access to 999 calls, film, photos.  Core participants should have access to Housing forms as this is part of the number of people identified in the Grenfell Tower fire  When taking statements from core participants, a great deal of care should be taken  During the gathering of information, if it is found that there are safety concerns, this should be dealt with ongoing and not wait till end Phase 2. For example, Hillsborough, within 2 months Safety concerns on football stadiums were being dealt with across the UK. Sooner rather than later [Mansfield]  With the McPherson and Lawrence Reports, there were additional people alongside the panel team, made up of core participants. Suggestion of additional 5 people. Further clarification that there should be no confusion as a consultative panel is no substitute to a decision panel. For example, it is a chance for the survivors to have their say [Mansfield] 31

Grenfell Media Watch Report – February 2018

It has since been decided by the Prime Minister that there will be no community consultative panel. She feels that the panel has sufficient expertise to undertake the work without an additional panel, citing the need to be expeditious.  Environmental damage has not been mentioned [Mansfield]  Survivors disappointed with how slow the Inquiry process is. A roadmap of what the Inquiry has so far and when it will be disclosed [core participants / Mansfield].  Humanity, dignity and respect also what the survivors and next of kin are asking for [Munroe]  Diversity, grief, global ramifications – not tangible aspects however goes to the heart of the Inquiry [Munroe]  Article 2 in Inquiry highlights discrimination including disabilities [Munroe]  People are still suffering Trauma [Munroe]  The deadline of 4 December was wrong and handled with better care [this is part of the commenting on experts’ information]. Moore-Bick clarified that if the submissions were late, they would not be ignored  The Inquiry does not have bottomless pockets and the 383 companies identified are already getting in their experts [Thomas]  It is important there is a fair crack at the whip in terms of Justice [Thomas]  It looks like a lot of the solicitors have not had the paperwork given to them yet [Thomas]  Separate experts for housing construction; refurbishment; maintenance; other works; 2012-2016 Program of Works; management in the aftermath of disaster; missing documentation [Thomas]  Core participants should be part of the decision making, rather than consultative. Survivors are exhausted, and it is also an opportunity for them to influence Policy [lawyer]  Concern if disclosure is only partial. For example, files that included undercover police, were destroyed [Hillsborough]. Opportunity to identify gaps in disclosure [lawyer]  Disabled residents – the refurbishment carried out in 2014 [lawyer]  The council has not provided files for each resident – this will contain important documents such as concerns, complaints [lawyer]  Chairman of Leasehold Association [Mr Ahmed] has been involved throughout – could be a potential assessor [lawyer]  Core participants will need an expert to understand the documents in order to ask questions. There should be a flexibility in approach when these requests are made [lawyer]  Opening Statements should consider precise language i.e. what happened, their role and faults. This is important because families need to understand where the Inquiry /people are going with their submissions  Raised concerns that the perception may be that Phase 1 expert summaries may not seem as important as phase 2 and some findings may go against phase 1 [quantitative=1 vs qualitative=2]. [lawyer]  A suggestion of having Rolling Seminars to include lawyers and experts. Acts as a discussion and inclusive meeting with community consultants. Meeting to consider practical steps that can feed ideas. Suggested frequency every couple of weeks [lawyer]

Grenfell Media Watch Report – February 2018

Recommendations SOME RECOMMENDATIONS BASED ON OUR ANALYSIS OF THE CURRENT PERSONAL, SOCIAL AND POLITICAL SITUATION OF THOSE AFFECTED.

1. Immediate Action: Direct support for existing wellbeing services and activities with a focus on strengthening their capacity and outreach capabilities to assist those living with severe depression and at risk of suicide or engaging in self- harm. 2. Immediate Action: The rehousing of Grenfell survivors in suitable permanent accommodation with lifelong tenancies that are rent and service charge free. 3. Immediate Action: The creation of a central Charitable Trust fund to eventually hold all donations with Grenfell survivors/direct representatives established as board members and trustees. 4. Immediate Action: The allocation of long term sites to host community services offering healing, education, therapy, self-help, employment and recreational services for Grenfell survivors and residents. 5. Immediate Action: The purchase of appropriate aerial platforms by fire brigade services with tower blocks within their service area 6. Legislation: The installation of external and internal fire sprinklers in all UK tower blocks alongside working alarms.

Grenfell Media Watch Report – February 2018

“For the community by the community” May the Ancestors guide and protect us. Ase