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Tories deny claims they discussed plans to 'spin Grenfell' during pub meeting

Smoke billows from Grenfell Tower in London in the wake of the tragic blaze (AP Photo/Matt Dunham, file)
Smoke billows from Grenfell Tower in London in the wake of the tragic blaze (AP Photo/Matt Dunham, file)

Conservative Party campaigners were allegedly heard discussing how they could spin the Grenfell Tower blaze for political gain, only a mile away from the scene of the tragic incident.

Tory council candidate Maxwell Woodger is alleged to have been part of the group, which was also heard claiming that survivors living in hotels were ‘milking the system’.

Although Mr Woodger has strongly denied the claims, a complaint has since been made to Kensington, Chelsea and Fulham Conservative Party.

Maxwell Woodger has denied the claims (Twitter)
Maxwell Woodger has denied the claims (Twitter)

‘They were unashamed, it was shocking to hear. One appeared to be briefing a woman’, one eye-witness alleged to The Mirror.

‘She was told, “What we need to get across is there are only “X” still left in hotels and they’re only there because basically they are milking the system’.

‘He said they needed to spin Grenfell on doorsteps.’

The eyewitness says he told the Tories to ‘show some respect’, before complaining to the manageress.

The Ladbroke Arms (Google)
The Ladbroke Arms (Google)

The pub’s assistant manager, Ugne Simabicinte, has since confirmed that the campaigners were asked to leave.

Mr Woodger, who was nominated as the Tory candidate for Queen’s Gate Ward in South Kensington, said: ‘That whole story is made up. No, I was not talking about Grenfell.

‘I could see this guy was irritated by a group of Tories. He looked over and started shouting about Grenfell.’

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A spokesperson for Kensington and Chelsea Conservatives added: ‘The allegation they were asked to move because of comments about Grenfell and the alleged comments about Grenfell are categorically untrue.’

Yahoo News UK has contacted Conservative Party HQ for further comment.