Stormzy: Jacob Rees-Mogg is 'an actual piece of s***' for Grenfell comments
Jacob Rees-Mogg implied Grenfell victims lacked "common sense" during the blaze which killed 72 people.
Wednesday 6 November 2019 08:05, UK
Stormzy has called Jacob Rees-Mogg "an actual piece of s***" and called for his resignation after the politician's Grenfell comments.聽
The rapper said the comments showed "politicians are actual aliens" and that Mr Rees-Mogg is a "scumbag".
Mr Rees-Mogg, who is the leader of the Commons, said it would have been "common sense" for Grenfell Tower residents to ignore advice and leave the burning building.
Speaking on LBC's Nick Ferrari on Monday, Mr Rees-Mogg said: "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 and it is such a tragedy that that didn't happen."
Mr Rees-Mogg subsequently apologised for the comments, which had been denounced as insulting by groups representing Grenfell survivors and victims' families.
Stormzy, whose hit track Vossi Bop includes the lyrics "f*** the government and f*** Boris" and also starred on the Grenfell charity single, shared the clip of Mr Rees-Mogg's original comments with his 1.2m followers.
Croydon-born Stormzy, whose real name is Michael Omari, wrote on Twitter: "Oi @Jacob_Rees_Mogg you need to resign you’re an actual piece of s*** I beg everyone watch this - MP Jacob Rees Mogg in a nutshell saying Grenfell Victims should of had the common sense to escape. I can’t believe the cheek f* hell these politicians are actual aliens."
He said Mr Rees-Mogg's comments implied "those who lost their lives weren’t smart enough to escape".
Stormzy, 26, continued across seven tweets to say: "F* hell this man is the scummiest… Let’s bare in mind for 2 secs how horrifiying (sic) and terrifying the situation would of been for the victims."
He added: "Oi get this pr*** out of here these man (sic) are scumbags and they are wicked and evil."
He concluded by standing up for the firefighters and drawing attention to the government's responsibilities.
A public inquiry into the blaze, which claimed 72 lives in 2017, found the London Fire Brigade's preparation for a tower block fire was "gravely inadequate".
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In his apology, Mr Rees-Mogg said: "I profoundly apologise.
"What I meant to say is that I would have also listened to the fire brigade's advice to stay and wait at the time.
"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 unclear in my comments."
This is not the first time the Conservatives have been criticised over the tragedy.
Theresa May, who herself was booed when she visited the west London tower block, was forced to chide her fellow Conservative MPs when they jeered Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn for wearing a green tie in respect for the victims.
The leader of the opposition wore the tie for a Commons debate on a report into the disaster. When he began to speak, some Tories heckled and interrupted him - as relatives of those killed in the blaze watched on from the public gallery.