Sadiq Khan refuses Tory MP's request that Notting Hill Carnival is moved
MP Greg Hands says the annual event should take place away from Grenfell Tower
Sadiq Khan has rejected calls by a Tory party MP to move the Notting Hill Carnival away from the nearby Grenfell Tower, which suffered severe fire damage last month.
Chelsea & Westminster MP Greg Hands tweeted a copy of a letter sent to London Mayor Sadiq Khan asking him to move the annual celebration of British West Indian culture away from the Grenfell Tower, citing it as a "major national disaster". He claimed that it would be inappropriate for a celebration to occur within the vicinity of the fire, which so far has claimed the lives of at least 87 people.
Hands recommended that the organisation of the festival was taken over, at least in part, by the Greater London Authority and away from the original organisers of the grassroots event.
Responding on Twitter, Khan said: "Notting Hill Carnival is a firm London tradition and incredibly important to the local community. It should not be moved."
UK grime artist Stormzy also waded in, accusing Greg Hands of using Grenfell as an excuse to move the event out of a now-affluent area.
He tweeted: "Look at this scumbag trying to use the Grenfell tragedy for their 'get rid of carnival' agenda. We ain't buying it mate."
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