How long must we endure this ignorant woman playing the race card.What proof does she have?
I wonder if she has researched how many black firefighters there are in the LFB. I believe the LFB deserve an apology. Probably a good proportion of the brave firefighters were black in any case as there was a black only recruitment drive for some years. A disgusting slur.
//"Had that been a block full of white people, they’d have done everything to get them out as fast as possible and make sure that they did what they needed to do," she said, in an interview with Channel 4 News last week.//
No doubt if Stephen Lawrence was a white lad stabbed by a black gang then Stephen Lawrence's mum wound not be a Baroness.
Talk about a big chip on her shoulder.
To suggest that firefighters didn't do their best in an absolutely appalling situation beggars belief, especially when it is suggested that race played a part in their behaviour. I know a number of members of the LFB (past and present) and quite frankly if "Baroness" Lawrence had mouthed her sentiments near some of them she would have been lucky to reach the door unmolested, woman or not. They may have made some mistakes but who wouldn't when faced with such an unprecedented serious situation.
It's all fine and dandy making such remarks from the comfort of a TV Studio two years after the event. But the firefighters at Grenville were running towards a blazing inferno when everybody else was running away. To suggest they allowed the place to burn because it "only" contained black people is an appalling allegation and one on which I think she should reflect very seriously.
She did the best for her murdered son and managed to get a review published which put policing in London back twenty years. If she hasn't got anything sensible to say she should leave it at that.
I agree.
The policy of advising people in burning flats to stay put was long established before the Grendell Tragedy.
It was a flawed plan which unfortunately needed a tragedy to expose the stupidity of the advice.
If Grendell was full of white people, the same dodgy advice would have been given because it is nationwide policy.
"The Grenfell Tower inquiry report, expected to be released later this month, is expected to severely criticise the brigade’s response to the tragedy."
Whatever flaws may materialise in the advice and lack of suitable equipment, communication that could emerge in the findings I doubt allegation of racism by the LFB will be levelled.
Stupid ,ignorant, woman.
The Met police certainly didn’t cover themselves in glory with regard to the investigation of her son’s murder but if she is going to spend the rest of her life chucking out malicious evil allegations then any sympathy I may have once had for her loss has no evaporated. Nothing but contempt for her.
""The Grenfell Tower inquiry report, expected to be released later this month, is expected to severely criticise the brigade’s response to the tragedy."
I always liked this woman, but after reading this, I think she is yet another black person with a chip on her shoulder - disgusting to talk about the Fire Brigade like that !
Generally, I think she has spoken a lot of sense over the years.
However, I can't agree with her in any way whatsoever on this matter.
There may well be criticisms of the Brigade (as a whole) and the way it handled Grenfell but, once again, the individual officers were impressively brave and beyond reproach. I cannot conceive that 'anyone' took a view that could be considered racist when reacting to the way this tragedy needed to be dealt with.
This "subject" has had an awful lot of "discussion" on the London Fire Brigade Retirees page of which I am a member. I have been retired since 1993 yet this made my blood boil. A petition has been raised and several LFB Retirees have sent the Baroness an E mail to her political E mail address - in my humble opinion I would like to see a public apology. 'Nuff said.
FBG40
I concur with NJ also. I am no Trade Union Charlie but have seen and recognised the bravery our Fire Officer colleagues in the past and am in solidarity with them.This slur is outrageous.
Her attempt to get justice for her son led to the Macpherson report which came up with the definition of racism as "any incident which is perceived to be racist by the victim or any other person". My italics. How utterly ludicrous is that? Very.