Rotten #3

_{Rotten Elections?}

Quoasis

Conservatives: 34 seats; Labour 13 and Liberal Democrats 3.

The election news that North Ken has reverted to its earlier incarnation with 13 Labour Councillors is, for some of us, a huge disappointment as we had hoped for some political diversity. The Tories will be delighted with the new Kensington Labour Leadership, as they have always said they can ‘work with’ the new/old incumbent, a shameful reflection of the acceptance of some Labour politicians of South Kensington’s domination over the North. Incongruously, we have a corporate local Labour takeover – at the very point where nationally Labour is foundering and without vision or leadership.

Lib Dems have now taken over Earl’s Court with three Councillors, who will have a huge caseload with the upcoming Earl’s Court development and accompanying disruptions.

Yes, our Tory-heavy Council is happy to negotiate with those in minority parties, to ensure they are well and truly ‘controlled opposition’ and unable to have any genuine input into the essential change we all so desperately need.

Reshuffling the deck-chairs

At the Council meeting on Weds 27 May, the announcement of the new Mayor, and who will hold which cabinet role, will be revealed. The May Full Council meeting is when the months’ long machinations behind closed doors will be made official and voted in by the huge majority the Tories have held since Kensington and Chelsea boroughs were merged.

The Tory Leadership team sees some deck-chair shuffling but no real change – clearly the Leader, Elizabeth Campbell, hopes to hang on for her tenth year, to gleefully take credit for all the positive ‘culture change’ she has pretended to provide with her visionless cheerleading programme. We wouldn’t be surprised if the Labour government hands over the peerage she so desperately desires.

More to come as the numerous newbies settle into their roles.

Our communities deserve so much better.

Stranger Things? Theresa May’s Netflix Rehab

On Monday 18 May EDC was invited to a discussion in parliament about the Netflix film ‘Grenfell Uncovered’, which by luck had just won a BAFTA the night before. It was hosted by Kensington MP Joe Powell on behalf of Rogan Productions who made the film. The meeting opened with – weirdly – an interview by the film’s brilliant director Olaide Sadiq of Theresa May, who of course was Prime Minister at the time of the Grenfell Tower atrocity, and will forever be linked to it by her weak and wooden response. May uttered the usual carefully curated comments, that the community were treated as ‘second class citizens’ whereas ‘we’re all human beings’, as if this was somehow a total revelation.

Asked if the changes to legislation since that time were enough, she admitted a ‘no’, but ‘hopefully’ they eventually will be. In retrospect, she recognised that the Cabinet had been too focused on practical issues, while what was needed was an ‘arm around the shoulder,’ ‘it’s too easy not to understand emotional issues.’ Did she have a message? ‘Government must think carefully about implementing recommendations’ - a tone deaf but entirely predictable comment from the architect of the ‘hostile environment’.

This interview was followed by a panel discussion chaired by BBC journalist Aysha Buksh, who has faithfully stayed with our story from the earliest days. On the panel were writer Peter Apps, and bereaved & survivors Marcio Gomes, Bernie Bernard and Jackie Leger. Pete was uncompromising, saying that what had been achieved so far was ‘slow, partial and hard fought for’. Bernie and Jackie, who lost their brother in the fire, said the bereaved, survivors and residents were still not being heard, that justice was still a long way off, and that profit was still being put before people. There were strong feelings about the timing of the Tower’s deconstruction: ‘sometimes you need a visual sign to remember – no family should have to go through what we went through, for sheer greed’.

Questions and comments from the floor included a fierce condemnation from two young women for whom Grenfell has overshadowed their lives, criticizing the ‘media trained answers from everyone’.

Several MPs were in attendance. When the meeting closed a large group including some firefighters, BSRs, the Rogan team, and by chance some architect friends who are passionate about fire safety – all repaired to the pub, where the real discussions and serious bonding took place.   

Rotten? is edited by Tom Charles & Emma Dent Coad. The Rotten? images are by Junior Tomlin.

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