Responding to the appointment of Sir Martin Moore-Bick as head of
the public inquiry into the Grenfell Tower
fire,
MP, Labour’s Shadow
Secretary of State for
Housing, said:
“This inquiry must provide answers for the Grenfell Tower
community, find out what has gone so badly wrong, and help ensure
this tragedy is never repeated.
“Two weeks on from the fire, trust is low in the community around
Grenfell Tower so it is vital that the inquiry gains the trust of
Grenfell families and that their voices are heard throughout
this process.
“Given we do not know when this inquiry will be completed, it
must not be used by the government to delay making the urgent
changes we already know are needed.
“We do not need a public inquiry to tell us that tower block
residents need a commitment to up-front funding for necessary
remedial work, including re-cladding and retrofitting sprinklers
starting with the highest-risk buildings. Ministers have failed
to give this clear funding commitment, and they should do so now.
“We do not need a public inquiry to know that our system of fire
safety checks and controls is failing, and that an overhaul of
building regulations is urgently needed as was recommended to the
government in 2013 following the Lakanal House fire.”
