THE leader of the Tory opposition on Ipswich Council resigned yesterday after posting insensitive tweets about the Grenfell Tower disaster.

Nadia Cenci was forced to step down after claiming on Twitter that sympathy was running out for survivors of the west London tower block fire.

At least 80 people have been confirmed dead and hundreds left homeless following the blaze three weeks ago.

However, Ms Cenci suggested “complaining” survivors should be grateful that they escaped from the building alive.

The comments were posted by Ms Cenci at the weekend, using the Twitter handle “An Ipswich Tory.”

Twitter user Malcolm Wood wrote: “Support for Grenfell residents is fading. They have been offered money, food, clothing, housing and full support, yet they still complain.”

Ms Cenci replied: “Not forgetting that they actually came out of it alive. Afraid I feel you might be right.”

In response to another comment suggesting that the victims of the fire were people that residents were subletting to, Ms Cenci wrote: “Yep, I agree. I’ve just stopped listening and my sympathy is diminishing — I can’t pretend otherwise.”

The comments received an angry backlash and Ms Cenci deleted the tweets and closed down her account.
She issued an apology, claiming that her posts were “badly worded,” which lead to them being “misinterpreted.”

Ms Cenci protested that the comments were not directed at survivors of the fire.

Instead, the under-fire councillor insisted that she had been attacking “left-wing agitators,” who she claimed were exploiting the tragedy to try to bring down the government.

In her resignation statement, Ms Cenci wrote: “Last week, I engaged in a debate on social media in which I expressed myself indelicately in relation to the Grenfell disaster.

“I ought not to have expressed myself in the terms that I did, and I am profoundly sorry for any offence that my words caused.

“I care very much about the victims of this fire. It is an appalling tragedy and, like many people across the country, the stories of the survivors have left me in tears.”

Ms Cenci confirmed that she would remain as a councillor.

Council leader David Ellesmere said: “I think this was inevitable. Her apology was as badly worded as her original comments that caused so much offence.”

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