Grenfell: The End of an Experiment?

Following the fire at Grenfell Tower, Anthony Wilks investigates the culture of Kensington and Chelsea Council and where it came from.
The film accompanies a written piece about Grenfell and its aftermath by Andrew O'Hagan for the London Review of Books. Read it here: lrb.me/thetower
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Correction: At 20:02, the figure '8,840' should read '6,840'.
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[@Phoenix-vu4sn]

The fact that the counselor thinks that having won awards means they can't have done any wrong says it all really.

[@jayswarrow1196]

The result of graduation ceremony in action. They've been praised for routine checkpoint with zero achievements - now every little worthless effort they put, is a matter of great celebration.

[@sedwarg]

Exactly... won awards from the rich people who they serve with time on their hands to vote. Morons.

[@laouto152]

Congratulations on this clear and hard-hitting film. Absolutely right that ignoring history is usually a bad idea.

[@secretsoftheages6136]

As an architect, there is no way that this tragedy was unforeseen, as the council like to suggest. In the last part of this documentary (53:51) the man is utterly correct. The design of Grenfell was in such a way that it created a vacuum in which the fire would spread up and around the building, engulfing the whole mass in a fireball, much like a chimney. The coucil ignored maintenance issues and refused to look into problems, which to me seems very suspicious. Its also interesting that as poorer working classes occupy an area strive to achieve and become better, create an ORIGINAL identity and subculture which usually flourishes! That area now having 'character' is then Hijacked by rich upper-class citizens who monopolize upon that identity and subculture because they have the money to buy them out. The wealthy are opportunist leeches who deprive poor communities of the 'tools' that helped them escape, instead of helping their fellow man they steal there ideas/identities, package it in a box, wrap it up and sell it on to other wealthy individuals to make more profit. now thats capitalism folks.

[@Commentator541]

Mr Mojo Risin Come live in oppressive communism with me, you'll love it!

[@sallyuk7913]

Mr Mojo Risin well said

[@michaeltoner1993]

Is it that black and white is it?

[@ejrvane]

So now the PM has belatedly apologised for not meeting the victims' families when she visited the area to thank the fire service - an apology that's taken a year to make. She also remarked at the time that it was '... an unforeseen tragedy.' And this is the person who's running the country - or supposed to be.

[@ejrvane]

Back in 1945 a B17 Flying Fortress crashed into the Empire State Building. The aircrew and a number of people inside were killed but the building didn't collapse.

[@donnam4759]

This council is disgusting. They had to have known this was going to happen. They did not respond to tenants concerns and threatened them with legal jargon. They should be held responsible for 72 counts of first degree murder.

[@rogerpeachey2212]

Cost cutting has cost lives.they will probably continue putting up these buildings on the cheap .it was about saving money.i only hope that those responsible can live with there conscience .

[@acameron513]

I do believe that a death caused by willful negligence in the name of cost-cutting is tantamount to murder. Here we see 72 of those occurring and little accountability for it to this day. It's completely unacceptable and every detail I hear about this tragedy enrages me further. One of the most apt descriptions of the Grenfell fire comes from the thumbnail of Plainly Difficult's video on the fire: "Cost Cutting at Any Price."

[@idaslpdhr]

I lived in and grew up in Westborne Park Road and went to a youth club run by Claudia Jones, the BIT was right on my doorstep and we hung out there with Nicolas and Pals they were great days for a 12 year old, my friends lived in some of those slums in Coville Road they were death traps there was a makeshift kitchen on all the landings and there was always fires, the council didn't care then and don't care now, It is a wonderful area of London with some of the most amazing people on this earth, my heart broke when I saw the Grenfield fire it bought back flashbacks of the flat fires I saw as a kid, someone needs to go to prison THIS time, god bless to you all

[@beenaplumber8379]

I just want you to know that I was moved by your comment and the history you shared. What an extraordinary contrast of opposites in such a small area. I hope people like you write down your own history. I can't visit that time, but I can follow your experiences :)

[@mid.life.crisis2955]

It's really scarey you say flat FIRES, plural. How many does it take before they act? So sad what happened, I know it goes without saying that we all have thought, RIP those lost and thoughts to fam and friends. Also its such a shame that in the years after, some tenants still didn't have permanent accommodation. I thought the international news media shaming the local council would force them to act. I was wrong. God bless them.

[@AliAhmed-jx4uq]

It's not just this council. It's all of them even in Newham council started to demolish social housing and sell land to private developments making people homeless or move them outside of London to places like Birmingham etc. So why are they taking our tax and not helping the poor. Upper class people started to move into Newham private developments and I predict 5 more years the area would be divided as rich and poor..

[@dia.6213]

Ali Ahmed if they continue moving the rich in and the poor out there will be no heart left in London and it will die.

[@joznnerandle8838]

undeniable truth in your words and the thought of class segregation in my homeland is horrifying, its not what britain used to be about we were once proud of our non-biased majorities its just sad proof of how corrupt the people in power are nowadays. they won't have any luck pushing more populus into birmingham the homeless situation there is at critical levels already mostly due to them doing the same there. tearing down high rise housing blocks to build houses for theso-called elite.

[@barbiejake4801]

Me and my friend went to Grenfell tower the following evening of the fire to give black bags of clothes for the victims who had lost everything it was so difficult to stop the car as cars with aid were being turned away, we was told you can’t leave your car here so turn back and leave, looking up & seeing the building with red glowing embers of the contents inside each home still burning was absolutely upsetting and knowing people were inside burned alive just brought tears to my eyes, it was terrible seeing it on the news but being there and seeing it in person? just made me so angry with the leaders of this borough, no one should ever face anything like this & I’ve noticed nothing has been done to remove the cladding from the other 400 tower buildings in London? 4yrs on they all still have this cladding on, there was a fire 4 minutes away from where I live last weekend it was on the tv news the same thing happened cladding caught fire very quickly destroying 3 storeys of that building thank goodness the firefighters got control of that fire & had it been at night like Grenfell it may have been worse, when will these councils learn? They are full of excuses yet fail to see they are at fault it’s disgusting

[@lenniet]

On the evening after the fire, Councilor Feilding-Mellen, head of housing for Kensington & Chelsea, hosted a party at his country residence. At least 72 people were dead on his watch and hundreds were without anywhere to sleep that night, but he went ahead with a party!

[@mrkipling2201]

The only thing that surprises me is the fact that you find that surprising. Of course he went ahead with his party. They don’t care!!

[@Blacktolite]

This was a great documentary highly informative and entertaining, well edited, and narrated you guys deserve more views this is top notch doc. thank you!

[@hayaglamazonluxe]

Ratso Rizzo Indeed it's an excellent documentary

[@theotherwise3102]

🙏🏽Thank all involved in this historical and fact finding documentary 👊🏼 💫💫💫💫💫

[@k50atze]

6:11 Dear Mr. Roncolato: Very good speach, Sir. The window and its frame are airtight. The gab between the frame and the building wasn't. Very common.

[@tedlandrum1479]

meanwhile, has anyone gone to jail? and why the hell not?

[@mutley66]

No one 'has gone' to jail because we have jurisprudence you fucking pleb. Innocent until proven guilty. If you want people to be rounded up and herded into jail due their association with an event, go live in Turkey or Somalia. Otherwise, sit up straight, read around a subject, don't blithely follow whatever the tabloids tell you and reflect on the privilege it is to live in a lawful, wealthy society that can afford to spend £10m renovating subsidised housing for the working class and then another £100m on the survivors when it goes wrong. Moron.

[@Gencturk92]

someone has to be held accountable for this for putting that cladding on the building that made the fire spread everywhere.

[@mutley66]

Gencturk92 well the same cladding has been put on 300 buildings up and down the country. How many people do you plan to punish?

[@Gencturk92]

and do you think its safe to do that ?

[@mutley66]

No. But now you're diverting from your original point. Accountability. Let's determine if the building contractors knowingly used flammable materials. Let's determine if the firefighters made the right decision in confining residents to their homes rather than ordering an evacuation. Let's see which regulations governments over the past 30 years removed (Including New Labour, who were elected largely on a raft of de-regulation promises). Let's use our justice system to investigate, scrutinise and if applicable, prosecute. But let's not use the court of public opinion (which is ill informed, short of attention and incompetent, legally speaking) to try those most visible. Not least because they've (the TMO) already sentenced themselves by dissolving their company and arguably worsened the lives of social housing residents, across the borough.

[@floraposteschild4184]

34:54 "We're all going to replay this, for the rest of our lives...." Yes, dear. Really, the councilors are the ones who are suffering. And you were there for them. Well, not THERE, physically there, helping people. But in the general area. In solidarity. I mean, the smell must have been appalling.

[@2Sugarbears]

Well said.

[@cazstar1989]

I thought the same. Fake tears 🙄

[@AnonymousPacifist]

Flora Posteschild Construction Mangers stress and neglect workers. Money's there God; egoism is the way of there day! Lets face it the racist management that's to blame was helped by a racist government. Both more interested in a good time, than people's life's? Now blood on there hands.

[@whatamalike]

Yeah, total crocodile tears. She's not crying because of any genuine compassion for the victims of Grenfell and their families but rather because she's part of the total fuck up that is the tory-run council. She gives not a single shit about the 'lower orders' but rather only cares for herself and keeping her rich mates happy; Tory incarnate.

[@floraposteschild4184]

She reminds me of the Nicola Murray character from The Thick of It, even physically.

[@sweetenedbuns]

This was very well done, thank you for making it.

[@pcno2832]

If immigration had been managed properly, the 1958 riot would never have happened. You already had indigenous British living on starvation wages in third world conditions; why on earth would you want to add to the pool of unskilled labor and make the crowding in these areas even worse? Who benefited from this, other than sweatshop owners and slumlords, then, later, the shoddy contractors who built these awful towers. The elite classes of the UK, unhappy with the oversupply of labor they already had, demanded an unlimited supply of indentured servants and they used the media to portray anyone who got in their way as know-nothings and bigots.

[@robokill387]

Their excuse has always been that indigenous British are lazy and too demanding. In reality: indigenous British just don't want to work in terrible conditions for peanuts while their bosses take massive profits. People not native to the area away from their support systems are easier to exploit.

[@pepedrat2982]

Blocks all over the country have been refurbished in the same shoddy way, and with the same cladding. Draughts and weird wind noise from ill fitting windows seem common. Any internal work is poorly finished, and needs hours of work to put right. Maybe the contacting out system of getting the job done is the best we've got, but it's chaotic and hurried when the work actually gets done. These jobs are expensive, and the funding seems to be there, but the results are usually awful.

[@dia.6213]

It's because the work is contacted out and then contracted out and so on with each contract ensuring they get their cut of profit = difficult to trace whose fault it is and makes accountability a fairy tale .

[@MayIPleaseAskYou]

Thank you for an extremely informative and objective presentation 👩🏻‍💻

[@DeeDerry]

Great doc...I lived in a housing block (privately rented/full rent paying) that had to have the cladding removed after Grenfell...It was a slap dash, shabby job and even after that there were fires and the fire alarms didn't work, it was just down to the tennants to realise the danger and take action independently...They do not care, it's just a tick box exercise...And now we have Freshwater

[@beenaplumber8379]

Here's the answer. It's called the Magirus M68L. It's a ladder truck that's built in Germany with a ladder that can reach 68 m. How tall was Grenfell Tower? 67.3 m. How many similarly cladded tower blocks are there around Greater London? It could come in handy for other fires too, now that LFB can no longer trust in compartmentation in tall structures. It comes complete with a rescue cage/platform, enough plumbing to run a monitor (included) and a hose, computerized anti-oscillation stabilization for those windy days, and get this, a 3-passenger, variable-speed elevator to scale the ladder! No more "fireman's carry" to get those rescued members of the public down. They can ride in style. (Elevator music extra.) How much does this cost? I dunno. Magirus don't post the price on their website, but I bet it's about the same as that botched beautification project they did at Grenfell Tower. I think London needs two of these units, and they can be paid for by the people who made them necessary, the RBKC. They've got a fair few quid sitting in the bank that they can't spend on housing, but perhaps they could use some of it to purchase a few appliances as a gift to LFB, a way to say thank you for the massive work they've done in trying to clean up RBKC's mess in North Ken. If RBKC can't cough up with existing funds, then perhaps a borough-wide property tax assessment? If nothing else, that 20 million pound insurance payout for the building should about cover the cost. Here's a picture: plus.google.com/photos/115667945699832802506/album/6158672627197478433/6158672657161445538

[@jentapsell1137]

Just to let you know . The funding for the London fire brigade was cut just prior to grenfell

[@davidangry8785]

Why oh why is it still standing

[@wiretamer5710]

It should stand forever... but they will all want to forget.

[@davidangry8785]

WireTamer mabe but you could also say that about any building that has had tragedy in the past,rather knock it down than let them refurbish it.

[@MurrayCowell]

It must stand, as a monument to the criminal negligence and corporate greed that caused this tragedy. A daily reminder to the genteel folk of K & C of how their quest to make a building look nicer for their delicate eyes, and their support of a culture that is dedicated to the enrichment of the few at the expense of the many led to the deaths of dozens of people. Let them look at it for ever.

[@UnitAlir]

David. Exactly. It's too soon to turn it into a sexy shopping centre. Maybe wait 1 more year. Then the council will start publishing reports about how happy the still homeless Grenfell survivors will be with the luxury Armani goods in their graveyard.

[@Matty12333]

David angry What’s happening with this tower now, are they demolishing it or going to totally refurbish it?

[@ajs41]

There wouldn't have been a problem if someone hadn't wanted to put nice colours on the tower a few years ago in the form of cladding. The original concrete would have been impossible to set fire to.

[@natureclips5849]

8:38 60 years later we are still saying the same thing.

[@marklobban3949]

If a small one man company blatantly disregarded the british standard building code and caused all this hurt it would be custodial sentence and a very hefty fine. Massive company do just that backed by the council and so far nothing. Now normally I'm indifferent to protests but this one go for it guys you all need justice

[@elizabethmunson2129]

Density due to mass migration and the necessity for ugly counsel tower blocks

[@kitemanmusic]

It's not the houses that are the problem. It is the people. Houses in Notting Hill are now highly sought after. Many years before, it was run down. Social engineering is responsible for the problems of mixing poor people with rich people. It just breeds resentment. I am wondering why Grenfell residents still have not yet been re-housed.

[@samuellourenco9526]

What worries me is that there were fires like this before. One event in France, where a trash bin on fire spreaded to the building's cladding. There was no major damage, but the fire still managed to climb to the 6th floor. Only the exterior of the building was affected.

[@robokill387]

There were fires like this in Britain before. One happened in Scotland, and recommendations were made to the government to stop it happening again, which was filed away in a filing cabinet and ignored.

[@jackincorporated8480]

London's very own Tower of Babel. BABYLONDON.

[@carmel-wayfinder5401]

No accountability of negligence for the loss of these life's.... All you governing bodies on judgement Day you will pay trust that as justice knows where you live ⚖️

[@jonathanbailey1597]

Every single line that came out of every single Tory councillors cake hole was the most utterly mendacious drivel I've ever heard. The sheer arrogance of thinking that their empty exculpations, and rhetorical overtures about it being some kind of oversight or lapse, or even momentary set of bad judgements, cannot mask the fact that it is their very form of life that one can almost deduce in advance phenomenon like Grenfell arising out of.

[@augnkn93043]

Jonathan Bailey Yes. And remember thatcher the milk snatcher. The little kiddies must drink milk everyday or they will get rickets. Only Corbyn will save us! Force little children to drink the milk. They must drink the milk 🥛

[@beenaplumber8379]

@Jonathan Bailey - Very eloquent, and I agree 100%. But I suck at concision. We need a much more concise version in the Twitter age. I'll give you a start though: In your last sentence, get rid of "almost." It's not needed. @@augnkn93043 - Thatcher the Milk Snatcher? Oh I love it! I'm American, and obviously I wasn't exposed to a lot of British culture in the pre-global 80s & earlier. BUT! Did you know that Ronald Reagan tried to make school lunches less expensive by declaring ketchup to be a vegetable? No carrots for you! (I think ketchup cost more than carrots or celery, at least the amounts we got.)

[@rjlondon5801]

Wow lots of racists commenting. These times plenty of English people living in spain lol....#justsaying

[@chrisw1053]

English and Spanish aren't races they're nationalities you idiot.

[@k50atze]

Honoured Mr. Wilks, this report is journalistic investigation on its best! Today I have to end at 15:43, due my poorly english language skills. It took me two hours thoroughly understand the first 15 minutes of your input. (thanks at your correct English almost without slang words and leo.org) 13:17 It needs to know industrial revolution starts in the mid 18th century in England and 50 - 100 years later in Germany (School knowledge of my own.) At the time the destitution poured in cities! Why? Population explotion! Humans poured in the cities and became slaves of kapitalism. You did a great job as journalist, Mr. Wilks, (so fare I watch your vid), but my question is: You does not research the whole history but focussing at your point of view. Journalism generelly is picking one point of situation and take it as a center, from which it argue. Isn't it? If you don‘t you were a researcher. So tell me why we need journalism. Best regards.

[@beenaplumber8379]

Congratulations on your hard work learning our bizarre language! I think his answer might be that his story cannot cover everything. The industrial revolution had many consequences. Poor people moved to places like North Kensington. That is important to his story, but more history about urban poverty might take focus from his main message. He didn't say it directly, but he did describe conditions that might be considered "slaves to capitalism." The story he is telling is one that is happening in modern times, so it should focus on modern times, while also covering enough history to understand what is happening now. There has to be a limit to his historical content or he won't have time for his main story. Journalists must make choices. This is my guess. Only he can answer.

[@First_Principals]

The numbers at 20:00 should show comparisons with all London boroughs not just comparing Islington and Kensington and Chelsea.

[@JazzyJ96771]

Wow, that's what my relatives had to deal with coming here in the 1950's to work, I feel sorry for them. Even though the UK *encouraged* them to come over and work.

[@dia.6213]

Jazzy J Yeah despicable and so many had fought in the 2nd WW for ' the mother-land' .

[@BillCarrIpswich]

"encouraged" Maybe the UK government did (I'm skeptical), but the people certainly never wanted them.

[@brianchamberlin6724]

Petitions or marches are just entertainment to them. Begging for justice don't work. Do what the Icelandic people did.

[@bloochoob]

I was going past there a week after the fire, it was STILL red glowing in some windows at the top. Still on fire. Horrific disaster which could have been avoided. I read the blog predicting it, the tenants all knew it could happen. So awful 🤬 I used to live in Westbourne Park Rd. I have read a lot of the history on the area, Peter Rachman was so bad and a money grabber that a word has entered the dictionary- ‘Rachmanism’ to mean exploitation and intimidation of tenants by landlords. That’s what that council is also like.

[@adamhagerty3869]

Btw I do admire the construction workers who will be on the job,I couldn't do it,I'm a bricklayer,but I'd find it to morbid, knowing there are people's ashes in the flats. I already have a good idea,that they will not search through for fragments like they did on 9/11. They will just tear it down

[@PaulieReynolds]

They brought in some forensic scientists who worked on the twin towers, also each flat will be carefully examined and all contents checked and removed. its a crime scene and will be treated as such for many more months to come.

[@adamhagerty3869]

Paul Reynolds I certainly hope so mate

[@peterhill8398]

That old Monty Python sketch about the architects doesn't seem so funny any more now. Just sadly accurate.

[@davidhillesheim2285]

Been humming for 20 years

[@mark-1rc502]

What’s this got to do with grenfell tower ?

[@robokill387]

It's the context that explains the decisions made by the council.

[@coveredbridgeman4916]

The Kensington & Chelsea Council, & The T.M.O. Should be given The Size 12 Boot & a Total New Council & T.M.O. Appointed Consisting of just Tenants of The Respective Building That They Live in, & The People That have The Tenants interests first & Not Like The Present Council. I Think The Present Council Should be Forst to to Pay out of Their Coffers for Housing for all of The Grenfell Tower Residents No Exceptions.

[@blackpuppy5645]

People need to go to jail

[@ramsey633]

too many people for a small country where can we house them we are still letting people in to an overpopulated country no forward thinking in britain for the last 50 years

[@nellyb.9340]

No, it’s not. Recently we had Blackwall, Dagenham and Catford. The experiment is endless!

[@finenebula]

This is nothing to do with Grenfell

[@Justkidding2012-x9i]

Law: don't commit crimes Also the government: comitted a crime

[@gladyssellar6408]

This has given me good insight to the problems thanks for making it, more people need to see this

[@GG-hu9dn]

Everything regarding Rbkc maintenance of social housing has been a "botch"?? Greedy contractors and councilors pocketing the difference ?! Dispicable!

[@mrkipling2201]

So you pay the council tax in your area and for your block but it can’t be used to refurbish or rebuild that block?? I’ve never heard anything so daft!!

[@ashbash635]

More concerned with making the outside look better and who cares about the dangers as long as it’s cheap. I live in a multi block and the inside of these type of flats doesn’t seem to matter. Care more about outward appearance. There is a block of flats in Glasgow where I live that had the most terrible problems like damp. Black mould, and yet they spent millions on the outside as opposed to the inside. It was infuriating. I’ve seen that there are hundreds of buildings with the same cladding and the fire services have not to this day changed their training policies so they are better prepared to tackle a blaze like grenfell. So this can happen again.

[@deee1776]

Even with my sound turned right up, the commentator is very quiet!!!

[@ramatgan1]

72 people died. People know who is responsible. Why are they not in jail??

[@beenaplumber8379]

Evidence, rule of law, criminal trials, trifles like that.

[@clonmore819]

Botched refurbishment? Really. We have been told it was a fridge which caught fire and the tenant contacted Emergency Services.

[@xyzsame4081]

electric appliances go up in flames all the time (120 flats, the tower was built in the 70s, do the statistics). The electric wiring was old, it can become brittle over time, especially when it is insufficient for the volume of modern power use - they had power surges often, and that can cause fires as well. Thus the GRIM warnings of Grenfell Action Group - see their blogpost of Nov. 2016, it was almost prophetic. If you have a coffee maker - that's a major cause for fire in private homes, unplug it when it is not used - or use one of those connector plugs with an on/off switch.

[@xyzsame4081]

In large buildings like that THERE WILL BE FIRES. Old wiring, accidents, children playing around, sleeping with the cigarette burning, Christmas trees.... And yes faulty household appliances. Or even arson by malicous or mentally ill persons. There were of course many fires before. The firefighters got in with the expectation of "business as usual". A fire in one flat. They usually put out the fire in 30 minutes. Damage to property, maybe some persons need the hospital because of smoke inhalation - that's it. It must be GUARANTEED that any fire - no matter the cause - can be contained. Especially when it is practically impossible to evacuate (ONE NARROW staircase, a few hundred people going down, while the firefighters in full gear with equipment try to go up. Passive safety - the building is constructed in a way that fire will be contained - worked well UNTIL the "refurbishment", so staying put seemed to be good and sound advice. Until those morons covered the safe, old, concrete facade with inflammable material, that became FUEL when it was exposed to intense heat. A few days after the catastrophe, a lab exposed a sheet of the used cheap ! cladding to open fire. It is a Polyethylen core with a thin Aluminium cover tightly "glued" on the core. Under heat the Aluminium warps, gaps open, the PE has become fluid and saps out - so now it is FUEL. (The Aluminium in theory should have prevented the PE core from starting to burn, but not when the Alu detaches itself from the PE). That is why a firefighter said that the fire started at the 4th floor and spread AT THE OUTSIDE to the 18th floor within 8 MINUTES. The had come 6 minutes after they received the emergency call. Then the building was a lost cause - even though they did not immediately realize it. There are no ladders that are high enough so it is very difficult to CONTROL the fire - once it had a chance to spread (especially int the vertical direction). And because of no sprinklers, they could not even slow it down or make it safer for the people within the flats, and with only one narrow staircase evacuation was a nightmare. A sprinkler system (which the tenants had asked for - of course ignored) could have prevented that the original fire could catch on to the facade. It is insane to "counteract" a "tinder" facade with technical solutions. They should have made damn sure passive safety was not undermined and additionally install the sprinklers to compensate for the lousy staircase situation. Adding some much needed EXTRA safety. And bring electic installations up to date to elimnate ONE major danger. There had been a power surge that made many appliance go up in flames. (see blog). and the new gas tubes had not been covered with fire resistant casings - as the norm would require. Needless to say, complaints about that were ignored. As were other complaints about the power surges, no fire drills, or the wish for sprinklers. Or the grim (almost prophetic) warning on the blog of Grenfell Action Group of Nov. 2016.

[@onefootatatime263]

It would help to have good audio

[@richardgoode5657]

A create of building in a central London or a profit before a safety of the communtiy?

[@kawaiianimedrawing4703]

It wasn't 72 much more whole church wax empty people disappeared from the area.

[@pavlovsworld9122]

If your Burrough has been in the bottom 10% for poverty for 40 years sounds like there needs to be an inquiry looking at the liberal policies. Are you looking at outcomes to determine your policies. Where are the opportunities... Upward mobility creates equality.

[@fintanoclery2698]

Upward mobility in the richest city in any country is a pipe dream for most. Toronto where the average house/condo price surpasses a million dollars and there's a shortage of affordable rental housing in every market is facing the same problems as London.

[@archiebryant9663]

I reckon it was planned

[@mattybowler7966]

Perceived failures we need to get beautiful London help I see our London is dying

[@simonlloyd7557]

it died 40 years ago.

[@TheKratoKiller]

London has been dead for a long time

[@Jimmytwogunz]

Close your eyes... and picture this building on land of Knightsbridge but furthermore full of Rich powerful white people with their families. what a different situation this would be.

[@racheltaaffe8357]

I'm getting a bit sick and tired of the so-called immigrant community criticising our way of life and how we respond. You guys are being heavily subsidised by the Great British public; free housing, free education, free healthcare. It's very difficult for me to listen to all of these complaints when my taxes are helping out these people. English people are suffering too and yet no one is offering them a free life. Stop being so ungrateful. We didn't ask you to come here but you have been given every available opportunity for the most part. Just stay quiet now. My family needs help from the public sector but we don't count because we're not refugees. And you wonder why decent English people are mad???? Get a brain immigrant community!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@lo2740]

"Rich powerful white people" that is a lot of racism in four words.

[@franhamilton4538]

❤

[@NextSound170]

Insightful and poignant. I could go deep but I won't. Just this whole episode shows how the root of the cause still there.

[@fatakisenga2352]

no much to say cause it says all

[@JazzyJ96771]

29:05 - why the fuck are they laughing? What's funny about it?

[@mid.life.crisis2955]

I can't comment on any of the videos from the enquiry (edit - as it has comments 'turned off') but it's annoying that less than a year over a hundred firefighters and first responders were in counselling - I would think paid for by the state - yet families were still in temporary accommodation a long time after that. I would guess that by the year 2067 there will be no counselling for the tenants. The UK puts on a great front but it doesn't care about the poorest people, the same as Countries they are allied with - I think the leaders jokes about poor people - yet some of the countries they invade actually help the poorest. Yet those countries are 'wrong'. A big f you to those on the Grenfell area Council. The blame is on them, not the companies who made the insulation. As a customer it is on you to choose wisely and it is your fault if your choice is wrong. If I choose to do business with the lowest bidder, I have to expect the consequences. God bless everyone lost and everyone affected.

[@lewisricekrispy2]

Just for clarity, are you annoyed that the fire fighters recieved counseling? As it's common practice to look after the mental health of employees in the same way that we should expect them to deal with any injuries. Adequate counselling leads to less days lost due to sickness and a healthier work force.

[@lewisricekrispy2]

It seems as though you want to let the manufacturers off the hook.

[@mid.life.crisis2955]

@@lewisricekrispy2 I think they all share blame. I reckon councillors/mp's/senators know what they're getting but are 'in' with the manufacturers (rewarded in some way under the table). That or they are negligent. Or thinking about it, if manufacturers have withheld/covered up crucial info, in which case they are to blame. I think the truth will be in the middle. If I was buying this kind of thing I would wonder why one price is much different to another and research it. I've not long had exactly that situation buying electrical equipment and I researched the heck out of it. With a large volume of people living in these places I would hope they would do their due diligence - and then some. Sadly I'm naive enough to still expect councils, governments, etc to work their hardest for the public! I doubt there will ever be a 100% truthful evaluation/explanation of what happened tho. Hope you are well and good. Edit - I've been watching some more videos. The company bigwigs seemed a lot shadey to me so I'm worried they weren't entirely truthful.

[@lewisricekrispy2]

@@mid.life.crisis2955 Have a look at some of the most recent news articles relating to the enquiry, and how the manufacturers seem to have been writing their own standards

[@elizabethmunson2129]

White working class Brits lived lives of poverty and discrimination but never complained they moved forward

[@jeanlind7540]

Sad to be poor and neglected in posh Tory council

[@gazancfc]

Savages trying to break into the town hall

[@shantahsieh432]

I did it quickly and efficiently with instructions from Avasva webpage.

[@trex8930]

A reasonably balanced piece in contrast to the hatchet job by Andrew O'Hagan in LRB, relying far more on fact than opinion with an added layer of historical context which makes clear the issues around housing in North Ken stretch back 100 years and more. Well done to Mr Wilks. He does however perpetuate the tired myth that Claudia Jones started the Notting Hill Carnival which is wholly inaccurate. We have Rhaune Laslett to thank for that. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhaune_Laslett

[@williamf4544]

Dodgie Dave

[@geeknee551]

lol.

[@sargentghostkm4908]

Wht hasn't the brownish bit of the tower not burned

[@ellataylor6060]

I was waiting Chadwell Heath station a man said good got rid of a few

[@ianholden7]

Grenfell is not a community 99% of these people don't no or socially interact with each other

[@UnitAlir]

And you would know Ian Holden who didn't live in Grenfell?

[@tutenvanman2715]

Most so called residents were foreigners some illegal. We never asked them to all congregate in cliques together. They should have been more interspaced throughout the country. I have no sympathy for people who help with their own demise.

[@tutenvanman2715]

Can't argue with that. Just recently one does begin to question the police policy it no longer seems to be to protect the public. Now it seems to protect a certain section of the community to the detriment of the rest of us. It is not far right it is looking after each other at the top of the pile.

[@wiretamer5710]

WTF? Have you ever heard of 'duty of care'.... and who the fuck is this 'we'? is that the royal wee? By law, the owners and manager of the building are responsible for the tenants, regardless of who they are. And the TENANTS did try many times, to raise concerns with the council. The council ignored them! I am very glad you are not in a position of power. You clearly don't have a shred of civilization inside you.

[@tutenvanman2715]

I don't waste my time on people like you. You know fully well we refers to the majority of British people in this country. Pray tell us all when we were asked if we wanted this influx of semi illiterate jetsam into our country. The police, council, owners uncle tom cobbley and all are responsible. Never the foreigners grouping there. They are not forced to collect in pockets in London turning it into a shit hole. Time they accepted some responsibility. There would have been less casualties had some of them been at work. Oh forgot we are the only ones who have to work it is racist to expect them to contribute.

[@marquisedessex451]

Tuten Vanman....they would have been on night shift then, since the fire started after midnight, Plus all of London has mixed communities. No-one deserves to burn to death just because they were born somewhere else. I guess you'd be saying how awful it was had all of the those dead been white British?

[@tutenvanman2715]

Quite correct and I see nothing wrong with that. Look at it like this...someone comes into your house uninvited they bring their friends using your house eating your food pushing you out the way at schools and doctors yet still moan about you. Sympathy has to be earned. Set fire to other high-risers I say.

[@jimsy5530]

When I was about 21, a fresh graduate, I was close to buying one of the top floor flats in one of the sister buildings to Grenfell. It was two bedroom, very spacious and had views right across London, main windows facing the Thames, the corner windows to Wembley. In the end, I didn't buy it, because they were about to start recladding the outside, and they wanted an each private owner to pay £80k for it. That was the same cladding that Grenfell was later covered in. Quite frightening really.

[@UnitAlir]

Damn. 80k per person? To pay for their own casket? Those thieves.

[@hayaglamazonluxe]

Glad that you never purchased the flat. No one should be purchasing a flat in a huge tower block. It's too frightening

[@Matty12333]

Haya Glamazon I would of chose a 1st floor apartment there

[@joannehowe7513]

I had the same is Sheffield, they wanted £7 from me towards a new roof, the council were the leaseholders and I was on the bottom floor. There were 11 other dwellings. Makes for an expensive roof when my dad could have done my bit to the same spec for a grand.

[@joannehowe7513]

Tom Jardine you still have to pay regardless of what floor you’re on.

[@bethroesch2156]

I live in the United States and watched this happen online. I cannot fathom how difficult it is to deal with the memories of that night. Hopefully, those in charge will make sure they don't take advantage of those they serve and allow another tragedy like this to happen ever again.

[@cd0u50c9]

It's clear that the poor were ignored for years. That building would have been made safe in weeks if the rich lived in it. Heads should have rolled for this tragedy and failing, yet it only impacted the poor so never mind. 35:15 yes she won't win an Oscar anytime soon.

[@thecatsman]

The politician took 'responsibility for the 'perceived' failings' If they were only seen by others as failings - and not actual failings - why would he resign. Why could this official creep not ADMIT that mistakes had been made? People had died, but the failings were percieved, not real.

[@beenaplumber8379]

GRRRR!!!! Your comment got me riled up! I HATE those political non-apologies: "I'm sorry you feel..." "I'm sorry if..." "We regret that you..." I learned when I was TWO how to say I'm sorry for what I'd done! In Japan, an official is expected to cry real tears when giving a public apology to show his/her sincerity. I think we should import that one to the West!

[@mrkipling2201]

I visited a friends house near Ladbroke Grove on the Saturday after the fire and I saw all the posters up everywhere of missing people from Grenfell tower. It was heartbreaking. It was also unnecessary. I say unnecessary because the events of that horrible night were so avoidable. Not to mention criminal.

[@SoniaVanGilderCooke]

Wonderful nuanced examination of the history behind Grenfell. Essential viewing.

[@bjoe385]

The sad truth is, we had already seen the effects of flammable materials over 40 years ago with the Summerland fire.

[@taraelizabethdensley9475]

Sadly lessons never seem to be learned

[@haydenharris3059]

This film is truly excellent, I watched it all and now have a much better understanding.

[@carlosonliones202]

Haden! check out the Grenfell inquiry here: kzbin.info?search_query=grenfell+inquiry

[@haydenharris3059]

@@carlosonliones202 Hi Carlos I have been watching it upto lockdown and its tragically enlightening. There are hundreds of hours but it's done in a simple to understand way. So far I have ascertained that Studio E are very much jointly responsible along with the council. Reasons....... The council offered such a low budget that Studio E was the only design company to take it and they had never designed for a high rise also Studio E left the fire breaks meant for around the windows, (off) otherwise the cladding would not fit. Studio E referred to the residents committee being trouble makers in an email to another department when infact the residents committee were just trying to highlight the danger. I've only see three hours over weeks but already to me, the obvious is being ascertained. Its tragically compelling probability because I'm hoping the responsible will be dealt with according. I have not enjoyed one minute of the proceedings but anger makes me determined to learn the truth and not from social or MSM. My only concern is that the inquiry will spread the responsibility too thinly thus no individuals will be prosecuted..

[@knicol46]

35:07 'Why did everyone think we let them down?' When those affected needed help on the day they wanted and needed help there and now. For the council to tell someone that has just lost friends/family and their home.. well you will need to contact.. or you will need to phone.. or you will have to go to.. just tells that person or family that the council just do not care - initial impressions count and last.

[@katj3443]

Exactly.

[@haydenharris3059]

What an interesting film well done.

[@mike-xt7qi]

35:20 most disingenuous i have ever seen from any councillor.

[@sofiakhan4580]

Social cleansing

[@ezekielmaina8802]

Both social and racial cleansing...

[@knicol46]

The enquiry currently ongoing will end with the usual 'lessons will be learnt', no council member will lose their gold plated pension pot, no one from the council will be prosecuted.

[@robokill387]

Absolutely bang on what happened.

[@mattgumbley6080]

Nuanced and insightful. Thanks.

[@myvideos9811]

YOU MOANE AND GROWN. BUT YOU STILL PAY COUNCIL TAX. BOYCOTT COUNCIL TAX LIKE YOU SUCCESSFULLY DID WITH THE BBC, TV LICENCE.

[@marcusdidius4090]

Great video:) Truly shocking that in the 21st Century, a council could get away with what happened:(

[@samanthabarry5254]

Which is so very wrong 😑

[@bowles123]

Brilliant documentary. When are people going to hold their hands up admit their mistakes that lead to these deaths and face true justice?. Kudos to the community for remaining so calm and not resorting to fighting their fire with a very justifiable fire upon the people responsible.

[@random-person1]

35:00. one has to wonder if Catherine Faulks should give back the money she spent on acting lessons as they clearly havent worked. fake attempt an crying when 70 people lost their lives and she tries her best to palm off onto the charities what the council should have done!

[@bumbozambumbazebulon6738]

This.

[@random-person1]

@@bumbozambumbazebulon6738 not sure what you mean here Bumbo

[@adamhagerty3869]

72?? Still don't believe that!

[@iamadam2011]

Because its clearly not true

[@ronnieg6358]

Windrush wasn't popular in the 50s. Adding to it has only made things worse. Look what we have now.

[@damienslash]

The council are criminally neglectful and irresponsible in my opinion

[@cbarclay99]

The programme does well to place the tragedy in a historical context and to explain the culture of the local council. The tragedy may prove to be a turning point in which the devolution of responsibility to charities and quangoes over recent decades is reversed and responsibility returns to elected officials. This may not be welcomed by Labour who placed sympathisers and members in many of these organisations between 1997 and 2010. The programme however assumes that council run housing is better than housing associations. This may on balance be true. However, it is a questionable assumption given the high levels of incompetence and corruption in local government and needs to be proved. There is no guarantee that the council would have prevented the sloppy workmanship and safety failures, had they been in control of Grenfell as opposed to the TMO. Nor is there a guarantee that returning responsibility to the council would make that council responsive to the views of local residents. Bureaucrats are liable to take the view that voters have a vote every few years and that is the extent of consultation that they deserve.

[@missynorris2055]

I liken the degree of out-placement of Council responsibility to having isolated themselves to the extent that they are now vulnerable to threats to which they once had a natural immunity. Truly in the eyes of the Council their response to the tragedy was to sit back & have the Charities do what they do; utterly oblivious to the expectations, of people around the world, that they demonstrate a marshaling of the RBKC's services at their command.

[@cbarclay99]

I think most councils in the South East would struggle to find homes for 120 or so families at short notice. In responding to the tragedy RBKC should have been helped by the Mayor of London and/or the national Government. I was shocked that Theresa May did not go down there that first day to find out what help was needed. The attitude of Cameron/Osborne in particular was to substantially cut financing of local authorities and leave those authorities to deal with their own problems. Of course, none of that excuses RBKC's inaction.

[@danielmarshall4587]

What a hurricane of piss with turds for flying debris. Earlier today I watch (KZbin) a 2013vid of a 1984 TV documentary about the pre-fab council housing of the 60's and it was not just these councils in London. Cheers for this upload.

[@winkerturonpoubel]

I am from Rio, Brazil and truly can say our local authorities can relate To these depicted in this documentary. To fight for less greed by real estate kings and landowners is a must in any community! To fight for safe housing is our right after so many regardless meadures that took already so many lives! Congrats on the excellent research!!!! Loved it - very inspiring indeed!!!

[@GG-hu9dn]

Rbkc and the ghastly former TMO, is what represents true poverty - it is called "moral poverty '! Them who perceive fellow contemporarys as lesser beings than them;: surely is a reflection of themselves??

[@RebelsInc969]

done on purpose