The statement reports that the weaknesses discovered following the Ronan Point collapse have not been fully addressed or remedied. That collapse took place nearly 50 years ago. We also read that 165 existing tower blocks have the same combustibility and dangers that existed at Grenfell. Does not this show a continuing catastrophic failure of building regulations? Do we not need an examination not only of combustibility but of all the other structural problems that are likely to affect those who have the misfortune to live in multi-storey blocks?
The hon. Gentleman is right to raise this matter. This is precisely why I have asked for an independent review of building regulations. Also, in the light of the discovery at Ledbury Towers in Southwark, I have written to Dame Judith Hackitt and asked her to ensure that she considers those types of structural considerations. As well as building regulations, there are also wider questions. The issue at Ledbury Towers was discovered because of Grenfell Tower, but it is a structural issue. The work should have been done after the Ronan Point disaster, and there are some really big questions for the local authority to answer. The cracks that were discovered were large enough to put a human hand through or to put books in. Those cracks did not appear overnight. They had been there for some time—months, or even years. How can it be that the local authority was seemingly able to act only after the Grenfell tragedy?
The most likely start of a nuclear war will come by accident, by technical failure or by human error. The danger of that is greatly increased as world tension multiplies. Is it not true that, while there is no equivalence in this and we should pay credit to China for keeping the lid on paranoid regimes in North Korea for 60 years, the new element has been an American President who has managed to inflame every frozen conflict that he has addressed? Should it not be right that we take a British diplomatic, experienced view of this, with cooler heads, rather than follow the example of the apprentice President?
The new element is the increasing desire of the North Korean regime illegally to test nuclear weapons and threaten its neighbours and those further afield, and the acquisition of what looks like an intercontinental ballistic missile with what could be a hydrogen bomb capability. That is the new element, which requires international co-ordination to defeat.
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Drug policies in Holland have delivered a prison crisis in that they do not have enough prisoners to fill their prisons. Drug policies here have created chaos in our prisons and a record number of drug deaths, including psychoactive drug deaths, last year. May we debate which country has got its policies right?
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In the UK we have always been very clear: we do not believe that permission to use drugs is of any benefit whatsoever, and we will continue to make every effort to reduce drug offending and to encourage people to get clean from drugs
Cheers, Paul, I'll add a bit more on Grenfell Tower.
I still maintain that when the middle class/ upper middle class and so on find themselves with a duty to preserve the interests of working class people they will buck, which amounts to them ignoring stuff, and not showing duty. They will not serve, prejudice... class, even racial?
To my mind these victims (I think that is a fair name) are better than their persecutors. I'm mindful that I should be calm and reasonable.
Ok. That said I will say this.
People aren't born bad. So why the lack of care (in my view caused by class, social and racial prejudice)? I'm not going to name names, but people with all the advantages turn to corruption.
The stain of guilt is quite evident. I don't like saying it, but it will be said by reasonable people. There has to be solidarity with the Grenfell Tower survivors.
A whitewash will not do, will not work. There is blood on the hands of the council and the government. I'm sorry I can't be more specific.
This is an historical event. Most of our history is not recorded or told. The behaviour of those invested in the system (a minority) is filthy and immoral.
No one can stand there and tell me that people do not have blood on their hands, that a great injustice and criminal negligence has not been done to the poorest, least cared about in society.
As I said the other day, so many other well meaning people do not even realise.
Posted by: Ad | September 11, 2017 at 02:01 AM
ThanksAd. You raise the same point that I made before the Iraq War. Saddam Hussain may have had WMDs but in what circumstances would he ever use them without guaranteeing hs own suicide and chaos for his country.
Paul Flynn
M.P for Newport West,
A.S dros Orllewin Casnewydd,
Posted by: Paul Flynn | September 10, 2017 at 03:37 PM
I suppose war, when it is unnecessary, will only cause further problems and more war and instability.
I feel if we had better standards, more democracy we would avoid so many problems. Going to war on lies, thinking they have the right, these cosseted buffoons don't even seem to know they are doing it.
Kick them out, attack them (legally). And do the same to those who clearly ape them. We have to have sides and we have to have principles. There is a choice for everyone. Diplomacy has a limit.
And I'm not saying diplomacy with North Korea is over, rather that: are they (America) seriously contemplating war because they are being provoked (disrespected even)?
IF North Korea attacks the South or Japan, what could they expect? By provocation they only harm themselves. Military drills on the border are going to make them uneasy. In the end if they do attack they lose and their country is gone.
If North Korea with a rather basic nuclear weapons capability attacks the south it can be defeated quite easily. So why would they? Could America keep pushing them to a point to where it becomes unbearable? That is the biggest worry. It would take a stupid government to strike first on either side.
So why the eff is North Korea's every missile test the main news week in week out for years?
Posted by: Ad | September 09, 2017 at 01:44 AM