Relatives of Grenfell Tower victims on Monday accused far-Left rabble rousers of exploiting the disaster for political gain.
They believe the self-appointed activists have no connection with those who are still grieving the loss of 71 lives in one of Britain’s worst fires.
Survivors have also distanced themselves from a militant group that claims the death toll was far higher. They say the disaster has become a magnet for fringe political groups with axes to grind.
A small group of demonstrators used the resumption of the Grenfell Inquiry to protest about a variety of different causes yesterday.
Several members of the Revolutionary Communist Group used it to campaign against the privatisation of social housing.
And a prominent group called Justice4Grenfell Monday reiterated its belief that up to 200 people died in the fire – despite official figures to the contrary. The group, which claims to represent the interests of survivors and the bereaved, has been accused of treating the tower ‘like a piece of meat’.
A spokesman for Justice4Grenfell said the group had been refused permission to be a ‘core participant’ at the judge-led inquiry.
That status would have allowed it to see paperwork, make statements, question witnesses and apply for money for legal advice.
The group had angered locals by registering Justice4Grenfell on Companies House and on the internet five days after the fire. It has described inquiry judge Sir Martin Moore-Bick, 71, as a ‘social cleansing judge’ and ‘out of touch’. It has claimed the number of deaths was ‘considered by many in the local community to be closer to 200’.
Three months ago a spokesman said: ‘There is an increasing sense that a serious, concerted cover-up is going on.’
Last month police debunked conspiracy theories by announcing the official Grenfell death toll was 71. The inferno, which started during the early hours of June 14 and spread up the 24-storey tower block in west London within minutes, was followed by angry protests and allegations of a cover-up.
