Labour MP David Lammy suggests true Grenfell Tower death toll may have been covered up
2 min read
The death toll from the Grenfell Tower disaster may have been covered up to keep public anger at bay, a prominent Labour MP has suggested.
David Lammy said he had “no idea” if the total was being kept quiet but said he was “sympathetic” to the theory and would march with residents who do believe that was the case.
Police have so far confirmed 79 victims are either dead or presumed dead after flames ripped through the west London high rise two weeks ago.
Mr Lammy told BBC Newsnight: “What people say is that if you put the numbers out early, there could be civil unrest.
The Tottenham MP added: “I am sympathetic to it, I am going to walk alongside those people.”
And he continued: “The truth is the media cycle is now beginning to move on to other things, that’s the truth.
“And so what people say is that in two, three weeks’ time, if you start to reveal the numbers, things have moved on.”
His comments come as ministers revealed 75 buildings in 26 councils had failed fire safety tests - a 100% failure rate so far.
Hundreds of residents have been moved from tower blocks in the London borough of Camden over the weekend, after concerns were raised over cladding, gas insulation and fire doors.
Over the weekend Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell claimed victims of the fire were "murdered" by a series of political decisions.
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