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Top Tory Jacob Rees-Mogg today issued a grovelling apology after making "disgraceful" and "insensitive" comments about the Grenfell Tower fire.

The Leader of the Commons had been condemned by victims' families, Jeremy Corbyn and London's mayor after saying the “common sense” reaction would be ignore 'Stay Put' advice and flee the fire that killed 72.

In a statement issued by his office this morning Mr Rees Mogg said: “I profoundly apologise.

“What I meant to say is that I would have also listened to the fire brigade’s advice to stay and wait at the time. However, with what we know now and with hindsight I wouldn’t and I don’t think anyone else would.

“What’s so sad is that the advice given overrides common sense because everybody would want to leave a burning building.

(Image: Chris J Ratcliffe)

“I would hate to upset the people of Grenfell if I was unclear in my comments. With hindsight and after reading the report no one would follow that advice. That’s the great tragedy.”

But Natasha Elcock, chair of Grenfell United, told the Mirror: "Sorry for me, 28-months on, is a really loose word. We need those people responsible, who contributed to putting that material on the building, brought to justice."

The Tory said in an LBC radio discussion about the disaster that the “common sense” reaction would be to flee a fire.

Rees-Mogg made reference to the fire brigade’s "stay put" policy - which a public inquiry found could have cost lives by telling residents to remain inside the building.

“The more one’s read over the weekend about the report and about the chances of people surviving, if you just ignore what you’re told and leave you are so much safer,” he said.

“And I think if either of us were in a fire, whatever the fire brigade said, we would leave the burning building. It just seems the common sense thing to do. And it is such a tragedy that that didn’t happen.”

Critics accused the top Tory of "victim blaming" while Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said: "What possesses someone to react to an entirely avoidable tragedy like Grenfell by saying the victims lacked common sense?

"People were terrified, many died trying to escape. Jacob Rees Mogg must apologise for these crass and insensitive comments immediately."

Shadow Housing Minister Sarah Jones branded the comments "appalling", Shadow Home Secretary branded them "disgraceful" and Shadow Housing Secretary John Healey said they were "shocking". And London mayor Sadiq Khan said the comments were "deeply offensive, insensitive and totally ill-informed".

Mr Healey said: "They were told to stay where they were by the fire service, who were acting on national guidelines."

Lib Dem MP Sam Gyimah, a former Tory, tweeted: "Insensitive and disgraceful for Jacob Rees-Mogg to suggest the victims of the Grenfell tragedy lacked ‘common sense’."

Labour MP David Lammy added: "How dare you insult and denigrate those who died in Grenfell Tower? The victims of this crime of gross negligence followed the instructions they were given by the fire authorities. Do not blame them. Your arrogance and condescension is monstrous."

Ahmed Chellat, 62, who lost five members of his family in the 2017 tragedy, which killed 72 people, demanded an apology.

He told the Mirror: “He has got to apologise. Who is going to challenge this man over saying this?"

Yvette Williams, the chair of campaign group Justice4Grenfell, said: “This is an appalling statement to make but unsurprisingly symptomatic of Rees Mogg’s ilk.

“His government failed to implement the recommendations from the Lakanall house inquiry - leaving the fire service and local authority with ‘stay put’ advice as a national policy and no full evacuation procedure.

“Rees-Mogg has a privileged background, what is his experience of living in social housing? How many tower blocks has he lived in?"

Grenfell United, the survivors and bereaved families group, said: “The Leader of the House of Commons suggesting that the 72 people who lost their lives at Grenfell lacked common sense is beyond disrespectful. It is extremely painful and insulting to bereaved families.”