Angry residents confront Tory minister Andrea Leadsom as Theresa May plans to meet Grenfell Tower victims this morning
PM will attend a hospital in west London to meet those affected by the tragedy after being criticised for her ‘private visit’ yesterday
FURIOUS locals confronted Tory minister Andrea Leadsom over the Grenfell Tower tragedy as Theresa May plans to visit the victims this morning.
The Leader of the House of Commons was told the deadly fire, which could have killed more than 100 people, could have been stopped.
Whilst being interviewed by Sky News near the burned-out building in West London, Ms Leadsom was repeatedly challenged by angry residents shouting “meet the victims”.
They asked why the Prime Minister had not met with those affected when she made a “private visit” to the scene yesterday.
One man said: "At least she could've met the victims, Corbyn was a good man - he came and met the people."
Another, 24-year-old Nadir, said: “This could have been stopped. You know that, right? This fire could have been stopped, a long, long, long time ago.
“This block and every other block in the area, suffering the same way. Exact same way. There is basic stuff, there is not even sprinklers in there.
“That could have cost £200,000 just to do that. They had £10million to spend. They spend £8.6million. Where is the rest of the money?”
It comes after it was announced Mrs May will make a visit to a hospital today to meet those being treated after the horrific fire tore through the tower in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
But Ms Leadsom faced a hostile crowd as she travelled to the area, with locals pointing the fact the recommendations of a public inquiry of a similar tower fire in south London were not acted on.
One said: “People want answers now. Not in two months, three months, not in a year’s time.”
He added: “Nothing has been done. Enough is enough. I have friends in that tower. I have a right
to be angry.
“I have friends in there. Because of people saving money, people are dying.”
Ms Leadsom said it was “an absolutely terrible tragedy”, and said the Prime Minster “is absolutely heartbroken”.
Asked if Mrs May would meet people like them, she told the residents: “The PM is doing everything she can. If it’s felt that that will be helpful, she will do that.
“There are practical needs that need to be met.”
And she debnded the PM’s “private visit”, where she met emergency services workers, saying a number of ministers have been to give support.
But that met with an angry response, with one man saying: “Why privately? Why has Sadiq Khan, Corbyn come down here?
“Not with the stunts or bodyguards, police, come down here, spoke to people.”