Stormzy has labelled Jacob Rees-Mogg an “actual piece of shit” and called for him to resign after the Conservative minister appeared to blame Grenfell victims for their deaths.

Speaking to LBC, the MP suggested people who perished in the 2017 disaster should have used “common sense” and fled the building, despite being told to stay in their flats by the fire brigade. 

“If you just ignore what you’re told and leave you are so much safer,” he said.

Download the new Independent Premium app

Sharing the full story, not just the headlines

“And I think if either of us were in a fire, whatever the fire brigade said, we would leave the burning building. It just seems the common sense thing to do.”

Shape Created with Sketch. Grenfell fire remembered two years on: In pictures

Show all 12
left Created with Sketch. right Created with Sketch.

Responding on Twitter, grime star Stormzy urged his followers to watch a clip of the interview.

“I can’t believe the cheek f****** hell these politicians are actual aliens,” he said.

“This man is the scummiest. You can’t even make this stuff up... let’s bare in mind for 2 secs how horrifying and terrifying the situation would have been for the victims.

“Bare of you politicians are evil and wicked and that’s why we hate you.”

Stormzy famously called out then-prime minister Theresa May for her response to the Grenfell Tragedy during his performance at the Brit Awards. In his recent single “Vossi Bop” he also raps “fuck the Government and fuck Boris [Johnson]”, which he performed for his headline set at Glastonbury Festival this year.

He later wrote in his autobiography Rise Up that he felt he had a “responsibility” to represent those affected by the Grenfell fire and “use that time wisely”. 

Mr Rees-Mogg has since apologised for his remarks in a statement claiming his comments were made “with hindsight”. 

“What I meant to say is that I would have also listened to the fire brigade’s advise to stay and wait at the time,” he said.

“However, with what we know now and with hindsight I wouldn’t and I don’t think anyone else would. I would hate to upset the people of Grenfell if I was clear in my comments.”

Survivors’ group Grenfell United said in a statement: “The Leader of the House of Commons suggesting that the 72 people who lost their lives at Grenfell lacked common sense is beyond disrespectful. It is extremely painful and insulting to bereaved families.”

Former Grenfell resident Joe Delaney told the BBC: “Jacob Rees-Mogg talking about common sense is a bit like my dog talking about Wi-Fi. It’s surprising he even understands the concept.”

Comments

Share your thoughts and debate the big issues

Learn more
Please be respectful when making a comment and adhere to our Community Guidelines.
  • You may not agree with our views, or other users’, but please respond to them respectfully
  • Swearing, personal abuse, racism, sexism, homophobia and other discriminatory or inciteful language is not acceptable
  • Do not impersonate other users or reveal private information about third parties
  • We reserve the right to delete inappropriate posts and ban offending users without notification

You can find our Community Guidelines in full here.

Create a commenting name to join the debate

Please try again, the name must be unique Only letters and numbers accepted
Loading comments...
Loading comments...
Please be respectful when making a comment and adhere to our Community Guidelines.
  • You may not agree with our views, or other users’, but please respond to them respectfully
  • Swearing, personal abuse, racism, sexism, homophobia and other discriminatory or inciteful language is not acceptable
  • Do not impersonate other users or reveal private information about third parties
  • We reserve the right to delete inappropriate posts and ban offending users without notification

You can find our Community Guidelines in full here.
Loading comments...
Loading comments...