This has been a week full of tragedy – the fire at Grenfell Tower. There has been an appalling loss of life and acts of amazing heroism.

We have been told that this is not the time to be political. But why not? Housing is political. The death of even one person is political

This was not a natural disaster. It was avoidable.

Everyone, rightly, is praising the emergency services. Fire fighters going into a burning building. Their bravery is beyond words.

But it was not so brave to close the three fire stations nearest Grenfell Tower.

There are 5,000 fewer fire fighters than there were 5 years ago. There has been a 25% reduction in fire prevention visits.

There has also been a 15% increase in the last year in the number of fire-related deaths in the UK, from 264 to 303.

If you put money before lives, people die.