Labour councillor slams Tory over alleged “Grenfell Tower” comment
News / Sat 22nd Feb 2025 at 11:19am
A HARLOW Labour councillor with specific responsibility for housing has alleged that the deputy leader of the Harlow Council made a “disgraceful” comment regarding Grenfell Tower.
Shadow Portfolio Holder for Housing, cllr Jodi Dunne said:
“At this week’s Housing Standards Board meeting, Cllr David Carter made a sickening and disgraceful joke about the Grenfell Tower tragedy.
“He stated that had he been in the tower when the fire took hold, his experience of watching the movie The Towering Inferno would have meant he would not have stayed put and would have escaped.
To make light of such an appalling tragedy is deplorable, the 72 residents of Grenfell who perished were following and trusting Fire Brigade advice.
Cllr Dunne added: “I feel that Cllr Carter’s joke was in very bad taste, doubly so when one considers that the meeting was attended by members of the public.
I had expected more from the Portfolio Holder for Housing and Deputy Leader of Harlow Council and hopefully he will reflect on this as a teachable moment.”
The leader of Harlow Labour also condemned the alleged comments.
Cllr James Griggs said: “These are extremely tasteless remarks, for which I hope Cllr Carter will apologise immediately.
“It brings into question whether someone who exercises this level of poor judgement should hold such a prominent role in this Conservative administration.”
YH has contacted cllr Carter for comment.
YH has spoken to Harlow Council leader, Dan Swords. He said that this is “not a true representation of what happened”.. they all totally refute the allegations and are considering further action”.
Adam
2025-02-22 12:42:56
People should have had the common sense to leave a building which is on fire, when your life is on the line never listen to the authorities they are concerned with the group not the individual. Many of the people who lived on on 911 where those who ignored the stay put order. Never mind the eco lunacy which lead to the flammable gladding. Yet again the state owns this disaster. How did we get to be so weak as a society we get offended by stating a sensible point of view or are we all menat to be victims dependent on the state.
Surinder
2025-02-22 13:40:16
Jodi Dunne as shadow Housing holder should watch and learn how the Conservatives are building over a 100 council homes when he and his Labour cronies were a complete failure. As there is no webcast of the meeting we only have Cllr Dunne's word and no evidence of the tone or context of any alleged remarks. Cllr Griggs is also an embarrassment: the comment is 'distasteful' not 'tasteless', which refers to a lack of aesthetic or artistic quality. Still, wouldn't expect better from him.
David Forman
2025-02-22 13:40:21
Context is everything and what I know of councillor David Carter is that he is a genuine and caring individual who would not have intended any offence. However, a bit of hypocrisy from Labour when the Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner, has this month ignored the Grenfell survivors and families of victims wishes to retain the tower as a memorial and national reminder. See article at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cq5g99xy979o
David Forman
2025-02-22 14:46:35
The ultimate insult to the Grenfell victims is provided by our Labour government copying the Tories with a deregulation agenda, an agenda that led to dodgy building cladding being falsely certified as fire retardant. See LabourList article at https://labourlist.org/2024/10/international-investment-summit-regulation/
Dean
2025-02-22 14:52:30
We had an old bloke in work - His comments and jokes became more and more inappropriate over time - Eventually, he had to go because we were always on edge and couldn’t let him speak to customers. No one with any sense should ever think it is funny to make a joke about Grenfell.
Surinder
2025-02-22 15:53:07
Dean, nobody is supporting making jokes about the Grenfell tragedy, but there is nothing in the report that suggest any joke being made. Did you actually see and hear what he is alleged to have said? How can you possibly judge without clear evidence?All we have is the surmise and allegation of a Labour councillor (hardly objective) providing no substantive evidence. Hearing your comments regarding a former work colleague, it seems pretty certain that you are no believer in free speech. Who decides what is 'appropriate'? Pretty dangerous in a so-called free society, don't you think?
Janet
2025-02-22 17:19:34
In British English 'A tasteless joke' or "A tasteless remark' is fine, whereas criticising someone's language is considered bad form.
Dean
2025-02-22 17:53:15
Surinder, I believe in a right to free expression and I also have a sense of decency. The old bloke in question had bought a g_llyw_g that he took delight in saying was a relative of one of our customers. He also told female staff what he could get away with doing to women in the 1970’s in ‘the good old days’. Don’t you dare say it’s pretty certain I'm not a believer in Free Speech. Also, I made a statement saying anyone with any sense should never think it is funny to make a joke about Grenfell.- I didn’t make any judgement on the individual.
Surinder
2025-02-22 19:49:03
Janet. Please check again: an inappropriate remark is distasteful: a remark lacking is aesthetic merit is tasteless. You are wrong as is Cllr Griggs. Repeating errors does not make them right nor acceptable. Accept your error with good grace and you will garner more respect. Our use of language, grammar and vocabulary is deteriorating woefully.
Seamus
2025-02-23 18:08:59
Context is a wonderfull thing. I noticed cllr Dunne makes no reference or gives any explanation why Grenfell was even being mentioned at all? I suspect Labours usual incompetence has been passed down to our Labour councillors who seem to do little more than continual point scoring. Perhaps Cllr Dunne could enlighten us with the full conversation rather than just a snippett of self serving opinion for his picture in the paper?
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