We have it down to a fine art in our post-truth society. Uncomfortable realities are airbrushed from discussion. And it’s back to business as usual as alleged scandal and misconduct continues to be a regular feature of our politics.
Disgraced MPs Mark Menzies and William Wragg are the most recent examples of the nothing-to-see-here culture – with all of the detail connected to their individual circumstances crying out for a deeper dive.
‘Dead cats’ strategy – political shock tactics aimed to divert attention away from scandals – whataboutery and a willingness to defend the indefensible by MPs, ministers, commentators and media outlets which should know far better, all mean the charades continue longer than a courtroom reeling from Donald Trump silently breaking wind.
The Grenfell Tower disaster, however, is no laughing matter and never will be. Quite apart from the fact that justice continues to be denied to the families of the 72 people dead as a result of the fire, now the entire building itself has been airbrushed out of history.
It was noticed by Karim Mussilhy, whose uncle Hasham Rahman was among those who perished. He’d been watching TV when he saw an ad for a pain relief gel (they won’t be getting any promotion here) showing people playing football on the pitches close to the gutted council block.
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Although two other blocks could clearly be seen in the background, Grenfell – which is easily distinguishable for miles because it’s covered in white sheeting with a banner reading: ‘Forever in our hearts’ – was missing.
Haleon, the company that had commissioned the advert, confirmed to the Guardian that the tower had been removed from it, apologised and promised the ad would be taken off air.
It does beggar belief, however, that the lives of the 72 and their families could be disrespected in that way.
Shame on the individual or group who totally lacked the conscience to grasp the enormity of their decision. Lest we forget, seven long years on from the fire that killed people too poor for many to care, the Grenfell Tower public inquiry is astonishingly still not ready to publish its final report.
Not one single person or company has been held accountable by criminal prosecutors for the failings that saw so many burned alive. The Government has been mithering about putting a permanent memorial on the site of the tower for what seems like forever.
The grieving families and most reasonable people would far rather they pulled their finger out and stepped up the pressure to finally establish some accountability.
The tower stands as a lasting monument to the malign culture of selfish arrogance and complacency within our ruling class. But like Hillsborough, the WASPI women, the Post Office and Infected Blood outrages, the Nuclear veterans and the Windrush scandals, Grenfell will never be airbrushed away.
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