Theresa May slammed for not meeting Grenfell blaze victims as Jeremy Corbyn embraces locals at relief centre
The PM talked to emergency workers instead of locals affected by the inferno
THERESA May was today criticised for failing to meet residents of Grenfell Tower when she visited the site of the deadly fire.
The Prime Minister spoke to emergency workers at the scene of the tower, which caught ablaze early yesterday morning.
However, she did not go and see any of the survivors of the tragedy - unlike Jeremy Corbyn when he arrived a short while later.
Some observers said it was an "absolute disgrace" that Mrs May did not engage with the local residents.
One local reportedly told Mr Corbyn: "Theresa May was here but she didn't speak to any of us. She was s***."
Another resident of the area, Celeste Thomas, wrote online: "While residents may want their privacy that doesn't preclude also meeting others or volunteers."
Piers Morgan added: "If it's true Theresa May didn't meet ANY survivors or relatives of the dead on her Grenfell visit today, that's an absolute disgrace."
And left-wing commentators savaged the PM for not holding face-to-face meetings with those affected.
Cookery writer Jack Monroe said: "People have been killed and May opts for a stage managed photo op rather than to hear from survivors, trauma victims, residents."
And journalist Owen Jones wrote on Twitter: "Appalling that Theresa May went to Grenfell Tower and didn't meet the residents."
Some compared her behaviour to George W. Bush in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.
Other Conservative politicians including Greg Hands, MP for the neighbouring constituency, have met residents.
When Mr Corbyn visited the area today, he went to a church which is being used as a relief centre for affected locals.
He said to one resident: "We have to get to the bottom of this. The truth has got to come out and it will."
A Government source suggested that the PM could return to the site of the tragedy after today's "initial briefing with operational staff".
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Asked why she had not met residents today, Mrs May replied: "I wanted a briefing from the emergency services." She then paid tribute to their hard work and bravery.
When the Prime Minister went to Manchester after last month's suicide bombing, she spoke to survivors of the attack in the local children's hospital.