Boris Johnson should reverse his decision to appoint Benita Mehra and apologise - John Healey

John Healey MP, Labour's Shadow Housing Secretary, responding to the revelation that a Grenfell Inquiry panellist has links to the firm that manufactured cladding used on Grenfell Tower, said:

"This is a thoughtless decision by Boris Johnson who personally picked this panellist. 

"The Grenfell Inquiry must command the confidence of those affected by the fire and the public. This appointment undermines that.

"Boris Johnson should reverse his decision to appoint Benita Mehra and apologise."

Ends

Notes to editors

·        Boris Johnson personally appointed Benita Mehra to the Grenfell Inquiry: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/854785/Sir_Martin_Moore-Bick_Ge_001.pdf.

·        Benita Mehra previously ran an organisation that received money from the charitable arm of Arconic, the manufacturer of the aluminium composite cladding panels used on Grenfell Tower. The funding was received by her organisation after the Grenfell Tower fire. 

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/jan/16/benita-mehra-grenfell-inquiry-boris-johnson-appoints-engineer-with-links-to-cladding-firm.