OUFCGav
Well-known member
- Joined
- 6 Dec 2017
- Messages
- 2,316
If you want to be truly gobsmacked by crass arrogance, check out the 'performance' of Eric Pickles (former housing minister) at the Grenfell enquiry.
When asked about his departments document about cutting red tape in building regulations he complained that he was "extremely busy" and had been promised he would "be away this morning". When pointed out the status of the enquiry he then told them "I urge you to use your time wisely."
When then asked to actually answer the question he had been asked he responded "I have answered it, I have answered it to the point of exhaustion, this document has no status." (he hadn't previously answered it).
When further questioned about the red tape cutting document he said it did not represent policy and alternatively claimed that the the document had been drawn up by a "junior" or "middle-ranking" press officer "who is not aware of the discussions that are taking place".
"This is a middle ranking official who is trying to generate a series of stories during August. There is nothing wrong with this but to think for one moment that this represents a mind of a department is as far from reality as you could imagine,"
He added: "I don't want to be flippant, this is a serious matter, but this is very much, if you forgive me, a dead cat bounce."
Amongst many other things, he also managed to get the number of dead wrong saying “I think its 96 people who were killed in the Grenfell fire”. (I assume he was getting mixed up with Hillsborough, was 72 at Grenfell)
When asked about his departments document about cutting red tape in building regulations he complained that he was "extremely busy" and had been promised he would "be away this morning". When pointed out the status of the enquiry he then told them "I urge you to use your time wisely."
When then asked to actually answer the question he had been asked he responded "I have answered it, I have answered it to the point of exhaustion, this document has no status." (he hadn't previously answered it).
When further questioned about the red tape cutting document he said it did not represent policy and alternatively claimed that the the document had been drawn up by a "junior" or "middle-ranking" press officer "who is not aware of the discussions that are taking place".
"This is a middle ranking official who is trying to generate a series of stories during August. There is nothing wrong with this but to think for one moment that this represents a mind of a department is as far from reality as you could imagine,"
He added: "I don't want to be flippant, this is a serious matter, but this is very much, if you forgive me, a dead cat bounce."
Amongst many other things, he also managed to get the number of dead wrong saying “I think its 96 people who were killed in the Grenfell fire”. (I assume he was getting mixed up with Hillsborough, was 72 at Grenfell)