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Grenfell Tower fire: protesters enter Kensington town hall – latest Grenfell Tower fire: protesters enter Kensington town hall – latest
(35 minutes later)
5.26pm BST
17:26
The prime minister is reportedly in a church near Grenfell Tower and a crowd have gathered outside to protest:
Theresa May sweeps into St Clements Church close to Grenfell House without speaking to public pic.twitter.com/K1xi6obu0O
"I want her to come out her and face us. What are you doing here on Friday? I lost my home on Tuesday, people lost their lives on Tuesday." pic.twitter.com/j0mP0BN8wJ
5.17pm BST
17:17
Sky are reporting that there has been an arrest at the protest. Their correspondent, Enda Brady, said he was moving away from the scene for his own safety as the atmosphere was growing hostile towards the media.
5.07pm BST
17:07
Mounted police and other officers are at the scene of the protests. Some entered the town hall, others have just been monitoring the crowd. They have been greeted by some boos.
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16:5916:59
Unite is to donate £100,000 to the Red Cross London Fire Relief appeal set up to assist people affected by the Grenfell Tower tragedy. Unite is to donate £100,000 to the Red Cross London fire relief appeal set up to assist people affected by the Grenfell Tower tragedy.
The union has dozens of members living in the tower, some of whom have lost their lives. It also announced it would be providing legal assistance to the residents to ensure they are able to pursue the inquiry it says is now urgently needed. General secretary Len McCluskey said: The union has dozens of members living in the tower, some of whom have lost their lives. It also announced it would be providing legal assistance to the residents to ensure they are able to pursue the inquiry it says is now urgently needed.
The general secretary, Len McCluskey, said:
We must get answers as to how this happened and action to ensure that this never happens again.We must get answers as to how this happened and action to ensure that this never happens again.
Unite itself is grieving at the loss of our members who lived in that tower. We are volunteering on the ground in an effort to offer the community every assistance during this traumatic time.Unite itself is grieving at the loss of our members who lived in that tower. We are volunteering on the ground in an effort to offer the community every assistance during this traumatic time.
We will not rest until the full truth of what has gone is uncovered and we will not be allowing the shameful cuts to legal aid to prevent that truth from being exposed. Unite is sending lawyers to the community and has set up a freephone number for anyone needing legal assistance.We will not rest until the full truth of what has gone is uncovered and we will not be allowing the shameful cuts to legal aid to prevent that truth from being exposed. Unite is sending lawyers to the community and has set up a freephone number for anyone needing legal assistance.
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16:5516:55
This video shows the council’s statement being read to protesters outside Kensington town hall:This video shows the council’s statement being read to protesters outside Kensington town hall:
Friend of #GrenfellTower fire victim reads out statement from Kensington council amid protest at council building https://t.co/CLEIhCldzN pic.twitter.com/JUZhdMxfZYFriend of #GrenfellTower fire victim reads out statement from Kensington council amid protest at council building https://t.co/CLEIhCldzN pic.twitter.com/JUZhdMxfZY
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Labour has called on the government to lift the borrowing cap on housing revenue account so councils can pay for all housing to meet safety standards.Labour has called on the government to lift the borrowing cap on housing revenue account so councils can pay for all housing to meet safety standards.
The shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, said:The shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, said:
The tragic fire that occurred on Grenfell Tower must never be allowed to happen again. The lessons of Camberwell, Shepherd’s Bush and Southampton have not been learned, and it is the responsibility of government to provide solutions.The tragic fire that occurred on Grenfell Tower must never be allowed to happen again. The lessons of Camberwell, Shepherd’s Bush and Southampton have not been learned, and it is the responsibility of government to provide solutions.
The government must now as a matter of urgency lift the housing revenue account borrowing cap to free councils to undertake the urgent retrofitting work required on all existing housing stock found not to meet required safety standards.The government must now as a matter of urgency lift the housing revenue account borrowing cap to free councils to undertake the urgent retrofitting work required on all existing housing stock found not to meet required safety standards.
Councils must also be given the power, as Labour’s housing manifesto pledges to do, to borrow to invest in council housing on the scale necessary to allow all those living in homes deemed to be unsafe to be properly rehoused.Councils must also be given the power, as Labour’s housing manifesto pledges to do, to borrow to invest in council housing on the scale necessary to allow all those living in homes deemed to be unsafe to be properly rehoused.
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4.48pm BST4.48pm BST
16:4816:48
Emotions are running high at the protest at Kensington and Chelsea town hall. They were demanding that the chief executive or council leader come out to address them but instead were given a written response by the council’s head of communications.Emotions are running high at the protest at Kensington and Chelsea town hall. They were demanding that the chief executive or council leader come out to address them but instead were given a written response by the council’s head of communications.
There were many chants of “Not 17”, a reference to the fact that they believe many more than 17 perished (the official toll has actually been raised to 30).There were many chants of “Not 17”, a reference to the fact that they believe many more than 17 perished (the official toll has actually been raised to 30).
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The second demand by the protesters was that funds be released by the council to help those affected in the short and long term.The second demand by the protesters was that funds be released by the council to help those affected in the short and long term.
The council statement said:The council statement said:
We are already releasing funds to look after the immediate effects of all those affected.We are already releasing funds to look after the immediate effects of all those affected.
The protesters also requested a list of the number of people in Grenfell Tower.The protesters also requested a list of the number of people in Grenfell Tower.
The response was:The response was:
This is not a matter for the council but for the coroner, police and other emergency services.This is not a matter for the council but for the coroner, police and other emergency services.
The council’s head of communications said he would strive to get them a number of residents by the end of the day, Mustafa, who was reading the council’s responses, said.The council’s head of communications said he would strive to get them a number of residents by the end of the day, Mustafa, who was reading the council’s responses, said.
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16:3616:36
A response from Kensington council’s head of communications to the five demands of the protesters is being read out by a protester named Mustafa.A response from Kensington council’s head of communications to the five demands of the protesters is being read out by a protester named Mustafa.
There’s a lot of anger as he is reading them.There’s a lot of anger as he is reading them.
The first was demand was that people be housed in the borough.The first was demand was that people be housed in the borough.
In response, the statement says they will be housed “as locally as we can but we may need help from the closest neighbourhoods”.In response, the statement says they will be housed “as locally as we can but we may need help from the closest neighbourhoods”.
4.26pm BST4.26pm BST
16:2616:26
Protesters enter Kensington town hallProtesters enter Kensington town hall
Damien GayleDamien Gayle
Over at Kensington town hall, protesters have entered the building and are in the lobby chanting: “We want justice.”Over at Kensington town hall, protesters have entered the building and are in the lobby chanting: “We want justice.”
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16:2116:21
The Sky News reporter Joe Tidy is broadcasting live from a protest that began at Grenfell Tower and is headed towards Kensington town hall, where another protest is already taking place (see below). People are chanting: “We want answers. We want justice.”The Sky News reporter Joe Tidy is broadcasting live from a protest that began at Grenfell Tower and is headed towards Kensington town hall, where another protest is already taking place (see below). People are chanting: “We want answers. We want justice.”
Tidy says it appears to be a spontaneous protest.Tidy says it appears to be a spontaneous protest.
Protest. #GrenfellTower https://t.co/BqoAXzsaaxProtest. #GrenfellTower https://t.co/BqoAXzsaax
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4.07pm BST4.07pm BST
16:0716:07
Damien GayleDamien Gayle
There is a palpable anger outside Kensington and Chelsea town hall. News cameras are focused on Lily Allen, but among local people there is discomfort with the authorities and the media.There is a palpable anger outside Kensington and Chelsea town hall. News cameras are focused on Lily Allen, but among local people there is discomfort with the authorities and the media.
“Why are the media lying for Theresa May?” one local woman asked. “It’s disgusting.”“Why are the media lying for Theresa May?” one local woman asked. “It’s disgusting.”
Another woman said:Another woman said:
We’re angry, very upset. We feel we’re on our own. The firemen, they say they are angry. The only people that have been honest to us are the firemen.We’re angry, very upset. We feel we’re on our own. The firemen, they say they are angry. The only people that have been honest to us are the firemen.
Crowds are continuing to gather and a speaker called on demonstrators to remain in place until the council leaders make a statement pledging an independent investigation and rehousing for all those affected.Crowds are continuing to gather and a speaker called on demonstrators to remain in place until the council leaders make a statement pledging an independent investigation and rehousing for all those affected.
#GlenfellTower demonstrators gathered outside Kensington town hall pic.twitter.com/77GAjUzbyN#GlenfellTower demonstrators gathered outside Kensington town hall pic.twitter.com/77GAjUzbyN
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at 4.34pm BSTat 4.34pm BST
3.43pm BST3.43pm BST
15:4315:43
Jamie GriersonJamie Grierson
A former British army officer who is leading the volunteer effort at Notting Hill Methodist church said the devastation caused by the fire was comparable to that he had witnessed at war.A former British army officer who is leading the volunteer effort at Notting Hill Methodist church said the devastation caused by the fire was comparable to that he had witnessed at war.
Ian Pilcher, a former captain who served with the King’s Regiment in Northern Ireland, the Balkans and north Africa, has been helping with logistics at the church since Wednesday.Ian Pilcher, a former captain who served with the King’s Regiment in Northern Ireland, the Balkans and north Africa, has been helping with logistics at the church since Wednesday.
Pilcher, 50, now a private security consultant, said the church had received a couple of metric tonnes of food, drink and toiletries, as well as seven Luton vans full of clothing. From predominantly walk-in donations, the church had also received televisions, mobile phones and even vehicles, he said.Pilcher, 50, now a private security consultant, said the church had received a couple of metric tonnes of food, drink and toiletries, as well as seven Luton vans full of clothing. From predominantly walk-in donations, the church had also received televisions, mobile phones and even vehicles, he said.
Pilcher woke to the noise of “siren after siren after siren” in the early hours of Wednesday and witnessed the blaze. He said:Pilcher woke to the noise of “siren after siren after siren” in the early hours of Wednesday and witnessed the blaze. He said:
In many ways it’s like being in a war because of the number of innocent people. In places like Bosnia there were many innocent people and there was a clear enemy. Here, nobody expected to die in their beds because there’s a fire.In many ways it’s like being in a war because of the number of innocent people. In places like Bosnia there were many innocent people and there was a clear enemy. Here, nobody expected to die in their beds because there’s a fire.
I left the army in expectation of a peaceful life. Nobody expects this sort of thing to happen so close to home.I left the army in expectation of a peaceful life. Nobody expects this sort of thing to happen so close to home.
Pilcher said volunteers had arrived from across London and outside the capital to help.Pilcher said volunteers had arrived from across London and outside the capital to help.
Frmr British army captain Ian Pilcher, volunteering at Notting Hill Methodist church, says fire scenes comparable to war. pic.twitter.com/kI1l8qITvaFrmr British army captain Ian Pilcher, volunteering at Notting Hill Methodist church, says fire scenes comparable to war. pic.twitter.com/kI1l8qITva
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