Yahoo News People are comparing Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn's visits to the Grenfell Tower
Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn have both visited the site of the Grenfell Tower blaze today, and people are pointing out the marked differences between the two.
The Prime Minister spoke to emergency services, but refused to meet any tower residents or survivors of the devastating blaze due to unspecified ‘security reasons’.
The Labour leader spent 40 minutes speaking to residents, and was pictured comforting a distraught woman who was telling him about a missing 12-year-old who lives on the 20th floor.
One resident reportedly told Mr Corbyn that the PM ignored the community, saying: ‘She was s**t.’
Distraught woman resident tells Jeremy Corbyn: "Theresa May was here but she didn't speak to any of us. She was s**t."
— Andy Lines (@andylines) June 15, 2017
Read more about the Grenfall Tower fire
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Mrs May’s ‘private visit’, where all media were banned, has been widely criticised, with RBKC Councillor Judith Blakeman branding it ‘a sign of cowardice.’
But Mr Corbyn has been praised for taking the time to engage with people affected.
Our nation has leadership. His name is Jeremy Corbyn. Theresa May is an absolute disgrace-she should have been right there with the families
— Bob Hewitt (@bobhewitt17) June 15, 2017
@jeremycorbyn Jeremy, you have gone up in my estimation unlike Theresa May. You showed absolute compassion today visiting Grenfell victims
— Jean Barnett (@MsRosaline) June 15, 2017
Now let's compare Theresa May 'privately' visiting #GrenfellTower vs Jeremy Corbyn actually meeting people there & talking to them
— Marverine Cole (@TVMarv) June 15, 2017
The reaction marks another blow to Mrs May’s popularity, which plummeted over the course of the General Election campaign.
The Prime Minister’s approval ratings have dropped to -34, a yawning climb-down from the +10 she enjoyed before calling the snap election in April.
Her Labour counterpart’s favourability has climbed steadily over the last two months, with his popularity growing over the course of the General Election campaign.
From a dismal low of -42, Mr Corbyn’s rating is now on zero, meaning as many people have a favourable view as an unfavourable view of him.
The death toll has climbed to 17 after Wednesday’s tragic fire in London, with the number expected to rise as emergency services search the wreckage for victims.
The first victim was named as Syrian refugee Mohammad Alhajal, who told a friend moments before his death: ‘It is over. The fire has reached me. Tell my mum and dad I love them.’
A number of people are still missing.
