In our post-truth society, it has become an art form to airbrush uncomfortable truths from public discourse. Alleged scandals and misconduct have become commonplace in politics, yet they are brushed aside as business as usual. The recent cases of disgraced MPs Mark Menzies and William Wragg exemplify the culture of ‘nothing to see here’ that pervades our political landscape.
Despite the glaring details surrounding their individual circumstances, a deeper dive is conveniently avoided. Political shock tactics, whataboutery, and a willingness to defend the indefensible by MPs, ministers, commentators, and media outlets perpetuate a charade that would make a courtroom reeling from Donald Trump’s silent flatulence seem like a dignified affair.
However, the Grenfell Tower disaster is not a laughing matter and never will be. Beyond the ongoing denial of justice to the families of the 72 victims, the building itself has been airbrushed out of history. This egregious act was brought to light by Karim Mussilhy, whose uncle perished in the fire. Watching an advertisement for a pain relief gel, he noticed the glaring absence of Grenfell Tower in the background, despite the clear visibility of two other blocks.
Grenfell Tower stands as a poignant and easily distinguishable landmark, its white sheeting emblazoned with the message ‘Forever in our hearts.’ Yet, it was callously removed from the advertisement, a disrespectful act that beggars belief. The lives of the 72 victims and their families have been disrespected in the most appalling way.
Shame on those who lacked the conscience to grasp the enormity of their decision. Seven years after the fire that claimed the lives of those deemed too poor to care by many, the Grenfell Tower public inquiry has yet to publish its final report. Not a single individual or entity has been held criminally accountable for the failings that led to the tragic loss of so many lives.
The government’s dithering over a permanent memorial on the site of the tower adds insult to injury. Grieving families and reasonable individuals alike demand that accountability be established, not empty gestures.
Grenfell Tower stands as a lasting monument to the malignant culture of selfish arrogance and complacency that permeates our ruling class. But like Hillsborough, the WASPI women, the Post Office and Infected Blood outrages, the Nuclear veterans, and the Windrush scandals, Grenfell will never truly be erased from our collective consciousness.
