JOHN McDonnell has privately apologised for his controversial claim that Grenfell Tower fire victims were “murdered by political decisions”.

The shadow Chancellor’s remarks at the Glastonbury festival sparked uproar, as they suggested failings that caused the devastating fire were committed on purpose to see a loss of life.

2 John McDonnell, Labour’s shadow Chancellor, apologised privately for this comments Credit: Rex Features

But The Sun has learned that he has quietly rowed back on the vicious attack largely directed at Tory councillors in conversations with London-based Labour MPs.

Mr McDonnell explained his error by saying he felt very passionately about the issue and got carried away.

The development came as grieving families and the local community marked the tragedy’s one month anniversary yesterday.

At least 80 people are believed to have perished in the June 14 blaze.

2 Kensington council was criticised for its response to the fire at Grenfell Tower Credit: Getty Images

One Labour MP told The Sun: “John privately regrets what he said in Glastonbury and has said sorry for going over the top.

“Using language like murder didn’t help us, and it certainly doesn’t help the victims.”

Labour’s hard left Treasury boss told an audience of Somerset festival-goers three weeks ago: “Is democracy working? It didn’t work if you were a family living on the 20th floor of Grenfell Tower.

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“Those families, those individuals, were murdered by political decisions that were taken over recent decades.”

In a slap down for McDonnell, Grenfell Tower’s own local MP Emma Dent Coad this week publicly distanced herself from his claim.

The newly-elected Kensington MP said the hard left shadow chancellor’s murder accusation is “not a view I share”.

Mr McDonnell's spokesman denied his private apology, saying: "It's not true".

But The Sun has verified it with two different MPs.

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