The dead of Grenfell Tower

Labour MP for Tottenham David Lammy told Emily Maitlis on BBC's Newsnight this evening that he believes there is a coverup concerning the number of people who have lost their lives at the Grenfell Tower fire.

On the ground he is hearing stories of far greater loss of life.

He told Maitlis that it is generally believed that there are far more than 79 dead. He said that authorities could check phone usage, school lists, benefit recipients. But he believes that authorities are reticent to release the real numbers for fear of civil unrest.

It was sensational television and Emily Maitlis looked stunned in a way she never shows.

But isn't that what so many authorities do? And especailly incompetent authorities, they will always try to hide and obfuscate. They keep quiet, pretending to be wise.