#Grenfell: why was #GoldCommand covertly there on day 1?

SKWAWKBOX

A section of the Grenfell Tower tribute wall

Apart from the terrible tragedy of lost lives, injuries and homeless survivors, two things stand out above all from the Grenfell Tower fire and its aftermath: the incredible response of local (and not so local) people to help the survivors and the absolute incompetence – initially even absence – of the local council or any help from other authorities.

The response of the local Kensington and Chelsea Borough council (RBKC) was so woeful, even several days after the fire, that the emergency ‘Gold Command’ response unit – headed controversially by the CEO of the ‘unaccountable‘ City of London authority – was eventually brought in to replace it.

However, it now appears that the authorities may have had a presence on the ground very early – but not in a way that the local people appreciate.

A community centre at the…

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