By Chris Williams-
Labour MP, John McDonnell doesn’t seem to know the definition of murder.
Mcdonnel caused Fury on Sunday when he claimed victims of the Grenfell Tower fire were “murdered” by “political decisions”.
Speaking at a panel chaired by a Guardian journalist, Mcdonnel recklessly claimed the victims of Greenfell fir were murdered by political deisions
He said: “Is democracy working? It didn’t work if you were a family living on the 20th floor of Grenfell Tower.
“Those families, those individuals – 79 so far and there will be more – were murdered by political decisions that were taken over recent decades.
“The decision not to build homes and to view housing as only for financial speculation rather than for meeting a basic human need made by politicians over decades murdered those families.
“The decision to close fire stations and to cut 10,000 fire fighters and then to freeze their pay for over a decade contributed to those deaths inevitably, and they were political decisions.”
Jim Fitzpatrick, who chairs the all-party parliamentary group on fire safety, said his Labour colleague’s comments were inappropriate.
“Jumping to conclusions and pointing a finger of blame at this point, I think, is somewhat premature,” he added.
Murder requires as a prerequicsite, intention to cause harm. The sad death of 79 people who lost their lives in the Greenfell fire died due to the recklessness of council chiefs and some ministers.
There is no evidence to suggest their was any deliberate intention to bring about the fatal harm that befell the 79 victims in the fire.The term of murder used by the Labour MP was wholly wrong and inappropriate. The Labour MP should know better, and may need to familiarise himself with the definition of murder. It’s there on google, it’s in law books, surely the MP should have no difficulty familiarising himself with the legal definition of murder. The incorrect use of language offers a reflection of a flawed perspective of the Labour MP.
Scotland yard has already announced that the police are already looking into manslaughter acharges against those responsible for the fire. .The obvious reason they are not looking into murder charges is because it is clear to them that no intention to cause the fatalities that occured in the Greenfire disaster can ever be shown. The monstrous fire that made world news has been established to have spread due to the type of cladding used on the toer following a £10m refurbishment.
KCMO bosses ignored several calls to safeguard the residents of Greenfell. They are now likely to become the subject of a manslaughter investigation.MP John Mcdonnel must take extra care not to be reckless in his choice of words because it actually undermines his general knowledge and intelligence.Mcdonnell must recognize that as an MP,he is expected to show the highest level of dignity and professionalism in all his actions, including making statements. Many of his colleagues would have been embarassed by his carelss remarks made. Mcdonnel should apologise and retract his comment if he wants to retain any serious level of dignity.