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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics
John Crace

Remorse over Grenfell is freely given now those responsible are far from view

Keir Starmer reads statement on the Grenfell inquiry to the House of Commons
Keir Starmer was in a sombre mood and the House of Commons was united in self-reflection. Photograph: House of Commons

This must never be allowed to happen again. How often have we heard that from a politician in parliament? I’ve almost lost count. In the recent past, we’ve had Hillsborough, the Post Office Horizon scandal and infected blood. And of course the Grenfell Tower fire. It seems that no matter how serious the inquiry, how deep the shame and the guilt, the tragedies just keep on coming.

But you can’t do nothing. You’ve got to hope. Hope that maybe this time something will change. That the fine words will be backed up by finer deeds. Not just to ensure the guilty, the negligent and the complicit are held accountable. But so the machinery of the state doesn’t roll back to its default settings. One where the powerful look after themselves and the less advantaged are hung out to die.

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