Resisting the obvious conspiracy theory that the working-class are being driven out in order to
make Kensington and Chelsea more accessible to the wealthy, I just find it odd that articles
such as this one below from the BBC haven't surfaced until the recent 'Brexit' decision.
For many years, people from poorer countries and without Union-backing, have worked in the
cities and taken on the tasks that the middle-classes just wouldn't give a second-glance.
The bullsh*t statements of 'minimum wage' and fair-hours-of-work do not include these people
and organisations such as the BBC know that any reporting on what's really going on could
stain the perception that the Government -that funds the BBC, wish to maintain.
Of course, with families fleeing wars, men and women awaiting decisions on whether they can
stay in Britain and many other reasons, many people who came to the land that's supposed to be
paved with gold are now existing on welfare and accepting housing that's paid for by the tax-payers.
It's only recently that subjects such as the class-divide -that were ignored when we were part of the
European Union have begun to surface. Is it a subtle 'clearing' of those from abroad...? or just a fact
that investment in low-cost housing really means expenses-paid meetings and needless paperwork?
There's also the topic of self-accountability to look at too. As the lady in the first paragraph displays,
for quite some time -and certainly in Europe, the culture of blame is far more important than taking
responsibility for oneself and family.
I'm not saying that the deaths can be attributed to an ignorance to avoid flames, but there's been
a push to use a recent statement from the Kensington and Chelsea Borough Council that if a fire
breaks out, staying in your apartment is the safest option and this, 'may' have led to confusing the
residents who perished.
But, the 'it's because of the rich' narrative seems to be the focus of many of the mainstream media.
The only amusing part of this tragedy is that the majority of the wealthy who wouldn't look twice at
Grefell Towers as a place to live, are the media.
..............................
London fire: 'The working class aren't being listened to'
'Maria Vigo has lived opposite Grenfell Tower for 11 years, and she's upset.
![[Image: attachment.php?aid=1998]](http://rogue-nation3.com/attachment.php?aid=1998)
Not just with the fire that claimed so many lives in the block she can see from her kitchen window.
She's also upset with how expensive her local playgroup has become, and how the people of North
Kensington can't afford the properties in the area.
But - most of all - she's upset that she's not being listened to.
"There was a lot of anger on the school run this morning," she says.
"There's a lot of separation between classes and people are telling me that it's down to social cleansing."
Maria says people are angry that things didn't work in the tower, and that there weren't any sprinklers.
"They need to train us how to get out of buildings safely, not just put up a fire notice," she says.
The mother of two, whose children both have special needs, talks of how, years ago, the affluence of
Knightsbridge spilled into parts of Kensington, then Notting Hill, then Holland Park.
She puts her hands into a circle. "We feel like we're being surrounded."
![[Image: attachment.php?aid=1999]](http://rogue-nation3.com/attachment.php?aid=1999)
The gap between private and social rents
Private tenants spend almost five times as much on housing.
![[Image: attachment.php?aid=2000]](http://rogue-nation3.com/attachment.php?aid=2000)
How house prices compare
£1,369,708 ----------------------------[$1,749,082.87]
Average in Kensington and Chelsea
£220,094 ------------------------------- [$281,054.54]
Average for UK
£66,384 Increase in average Kensington and Chelsea price since 2016. [$84,770.71]
Source: Land Registry
Maria was born in the area, and talks about how local playgroups have been privatised.
"If they were £2 and now they're £7.50, then no-one can afford to take their kids there."
She speaks without drawing breath, frustration spilling out.
"This area's always been working class. It's starting to become a bit less so now, and the working class
are feeling that they're being left without a voice.
"The council isn't listening to us. We don't want a pretty building.
They should ask us 'What do we need? or 'What would we like?'"
Maria also says a desire for profits is encroaching on the lives of working-class locals.
"Properties are being built in this area that aren't being bought by people in the local community."
The area around Grenfell Tower is busy, especially near Latimer Road tube, but voices are low and sombre.
People stand huddled in groups, looking downcast. Some don't want to talk to the press.
Others take photographs of the blackened block; a scar in the sky that dominates everyone's thoughts.
Young men in sports gear and oversized caps, old men in shirts and trousers, and women in hijabs,
all pull out their phones to take photographs of the soot-stained tower, bits of which float onto the street.
People's faces screw up as they look up. No-one can believe what they're seeing...'
The BBC:
make Kensington and Chelsea more accessible to the wealthy, I just find it odd that articles
such as this one below from the BBC haven't surfaced until the recent 'Brexit' decision.
For many years, people from poorer countries and without Union-backing, have worked in the
cities and taken on the tasks that the middle-classes just wouldn't give a second-glance.
The bullsh*t statements of 'minimum wage' and fair-hours-of-work do not include these people
and organisations such as the BBC know that any reporting on what's really going on could
stain the perception that the Government -that funds the BBC, wish to maintain.
Of course, with families fleeing wars, men and women awaiting decisions on whether they can
stay in Britain and many other reasons, many people who came to the land that's supposed to be
paved with gold are now existing on welfare and accepting housing that's paid for by the tax-payers.
It's only recently that subjects such as the class-divide -that were ignored when we were part of the
European Union have begun to surface. Is it a subtle 'clearing' of those from abroad...? or just a fact
that investment in low-cost housing really means expenses-paid meetings and needless paperwork?
There's also the topic of self-accountability to look at too. As the lady in the first paragraph displays,
for quite some time -and certainly in Europe, the culture of blame is far more important than taking
responsibility for oneself and family.
I'm not saying that the deaths can be attributed to an ignorance to avoid flames, but there's been
a push to use a recent statement from the Kensington and Chelsea Borough Council that if a fire
breaks out, staying in your apartment is the safest option and this, 'may' have led to confusing the
residents who perished.
But, the 'it's because of the rich' narrative seems to be the focus of many of the mainstream media.
The only amusing part of this tragedy is that the majority of the wealthy who wouldn't look twice at
Grefell Towers as a place to live, are the media.
..............................
London fire: 'The working class aren't being listened to'
'Maria Vigo has lived opposite Grenfell Tower for 11 years, and she's upset.
Not just with the fire that claimed so many lives in the block she can see from her kitchen window.
She's also upset with how expensive her local playgroup has become, and how the people of North
Kensington can't afford the properties in the area.
But - most of all - she's upset that she's not being listened to.
"There was a lot of anger on the school run this morning," she says.
"There's a lot of separation between classes and people are telling me that it's down to social cleansing."
Maria says people are angry that things didn't work in the tower, and that there weren't any sprinklers.
"They need to train us how to get out of buildings safely, not just put up a fire notice," she says.
The mother of two, whose children both have special needs, talks of how, years ago, the affluence of
Knightsbridge spilled into parts of Kensington, then Notting Hill, then Holland Park.
She puts her hands into a circle. "We feel like we're being surrounded."
The gap between private and social rents
Private tenants spend almost five times as much on housing.
How house prices compare
£1,369,708 ----------------------------[$1,749,082.87]
Average in Kensington and Chelsea
£220,094 ------------------------------- [$281,054.54]
Average for UK
£66,384 Increase in average Kensington and Chelsea price since 2016. [$84,770.71]
Source: Land Registry
Maria was born in the area, and talks about how local playgroups have been privatised.
"If they were £2 and now they're £7.50, then no-one can afford to take their kids there."
She speaks without drawing breath, frustration spilling out.
"This area's always been working class. It's starting to become a bit less so now, and the working class
are feeling that they're being left without a voice.
"The council isn't listening to us. We don't want a pretty building.
They should ask us 'What do we need? or 'What would we like?'"
Maria also says a desire for profits is encroaching on the lives of working-class locals.
"Properties are being built in this area that aren't being bought by people in the local community."
The area around Grenfell Tower is busy, especially near Latimer Road tube, but voices are low and sombre.
People stand huddled in groups, looking downcast. Some don't want to talk to the press.
Others take photographs of the blackened block; a scar in the sky that dominates everyone's thoughts.
Young men in sports gear and oversized caps, old men in shirts and trousers, and women in hijabs,
all pull out their phones to take photographs of the soot-stained tower, bits of which float onto the street.
People's faces screw up as they look up. No-one can believe what they're seeing...'
The BBC:
Edith Head Gives Good Wardrobe.