Sir Martin Moore-Bick has had a distinguished legal career but, despite his background and qualifications, he is the wrong person to head the Grenfell inquiry (Report, 15 September). He cannot be excused the remark that he hoped the inquiry would eventually provide a “small measure of solace” for victims’ families.
It’s an error of gargantuan, class-ridden insensitivity to talk in such terms to people, some of whom have survived an inferno and have lost everything. Many others have lost friends and family in a mass grave where they were burnt to death. The grieving, and often still homeless, survivors need to be heard. And the wider picture of why our society thinks treating the poor and marginalised to such substandard housing should be spotlighted.
The local community should set up a properly constructed alternative Grenfell inquiry, and refuse further contact with Moore-Bick. It should be led by lawyers and local leaders of their choosing, with their own community representatives – and have clear aims, outcomes and recommendations as well as a final list of responsibility. It should be open to the press and crowd-funded. Could this jog the establishment into understanding they can no longer expect deference and control in such matters.
Anna Ford
London
• The internet is awash with tittle tattle about George Osborne’s spite and misogyny. I’d like to hear a little more about the anti-public housing funding policies he pushed as chancellor, which many believe helped pave the deadly pathway to Grenfell Tower. He was, I believe, able to see the conflagration from his much more comfortable habitat, but seems to have no shame and accept no responsibility.
Amanda Baker
Edinburgh
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