Is The Government Trying To Use Grenfell To Shut Down Notting hill Carnival

It’s been just over a month since the tragedy of Grenfell Tower. Although it will be an event that will stay within our minds for a lifetime it conveyed how committed we are as people to unite in times of despair. It exposed the inconsistencies within the standards of living within London and portrayed a very transparent message that the Government see council budgets more important than peoples lives.

The imbalance in the Notting hill area stands as a reflection of the imbalance between the rich and the poor in the UK and it’s unacceptable  that so many people had to loose their life in order for the government to look into the safety into high rising flats.

Founded by Activist Claudia Jones, Notting hill carnival has been a part of London Tradition since 1958 off the back of the Notting Hill Race Riots. During the race riots over 300 white men charged down the streets of Notting Hill with weapons damaging African/Caribbean residents  homes and the Notting Hill area. The proceeds from the first carnival was used to pay for the court fees for all the young black men who were convicted for protecting themselves and their families during the Riots. After the first Carnival it became an annual celebration . With the number of attendees rising every year into the thousands, the carnival officially took its name in 1966. The Notting Hill Carnival represents unity within the African/Caribbean community and symbolizes the progress that black people have made in Britain. With it being the largest street carnival in Europe it represents how diverse London has become and how all walks of life are seen at Notting Hill Carnival with a rainbow of people attending over the Bank Holiday weekend in August.

Chelsea MP Greg Hands asked Sadiq Khan if Notting Hill Carnival could be moved this year. Implying that it would not be “appropriate to stage a carnival in the near proximity of a major national disaster”. Sadiq Khan rejected the idea stating that it would be a mistake to move the carnival as it started with the African-Caribbeans immigrants that settled in the area and has become a London tradition for many decades.

It could be said that the Councils to which the carnival travels through have been trying to move Notting Hill carnival for many years because of local residents complaints. With the recent Grenfell Tower Incident Mps could use this as an excuse to try and cancel Notting Hill Carnival. The council did not care about the feelings of the families affected by the Grenfell Tower incident when the tragedy occurred. So why should be believe that they care now. They are just using the incident as an excuse to get rid of a tradition that unites people from all different shades and religions to celebrate black culture and the imprint African-Caribbean people have made in London.