Grenfell Tower: Keir Starmer frustrated at pace of building safety works

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Following the Grenfell Tower Inquiry’s final report this week, Sir Keir Starmer expressed his frustration at the slow progress towards addressing building safety and cladding problems. The report revealed that concerns regarding housing safety had been ignored, delayed, or disregarded by successive UK governments. Former housing secretary Michael Gove apologized for the failure of governments, including his own, to respond adequately to the tragedy with the “grip required.”

On June 14, 2017, a fire in Grenfell Tower in North Kensington, West London, caused the death of 72 people and destroyed 151 homes. Cladding that had been added to the building’s exterior caught fire moments after the fire broke out. Speaking in No 10’s Cabinet Room, Sir Keir emphasized the urgency for building owners and developers to accelerate the progress. He expressed intention of bringing the same mindset he brought to the chaos from the summer riots.

The Grenfell Tower Inquiry’s final report revealed that manufacturers of cladding and insulation concealed the fire risks they posed. A safety test conducted in 2001 had revealed that the cladding type used in Grenfell Tower, burned violently, but the results were kept confidential, and the government neglected to tighten rules.

Mr Gove wrote in a column for The Sunday Times that progress towards justice had been painfully slow and that his attempts to punish firms associated with Grenfell were thwarted by the Treasury. The report emphasized the need to hold responsible those who bear the gravest responsibility for the tragedy, yet have not acknowledged their guilt, expressed their contrition for their crimes, or made restitution for their wrongs. The report’s 58 recommendations, including those for the construction industry, the government, and firefighters, are not legally binding, but all have pledged to consider them seriously

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