UK Prime Minister Offers Apology for 'Avoidable' Grenfell Tower Fire
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has extended his apologies to the families of the victims of the Grenfell Tower fire. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
A public inquiry has concluded that “decades of government failures” played a role in the deaths of over 70 individuals, including 18 children, in the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer extended his apologies to the victims’ families, following the inquiry’s findings that highlighted systemic deficiencies in government regulation policies. The fire occurred in a 24-story social housing block in North Kensington, London, sparking widespread outrage as many blamed authorities for neglecting fire safety protocols.
The inquiry's results, published on Wednesday, revealed that various government shortcomings contributed to the catastrophe, notably the use of combustible exterior insulation by construction firms. “I want to say very clearly, on behalf of the country, you have been let down so badly, before, during and in the aftermath of this tragedy,” Starmer stated in the House of Commons. He echoed the sentiments of Martin Moore-Bick, the inquiry's leader, who asserted that "the deaths that occurred were all avoidable."
Starmer announced that the government would cease awarding contracts to companies criticized in Moore-Bick’s report, while also noting that unsafe cladding continues to be utilized in the UK. He expressed concern that “the speed at which this is being addressed is far, far too slow.”
Moore-Bick's report attributed blame to private contractors, local authorities, and the government as a whole, remarking that firms exhibited “systematic dishonesty” and “engaged in deliberate and sustained strategies to manipulate the testing process.” The local authorities also fell short for years by failing to take essential steps to ensure that the certificates they issued were technically accurate.
The inquiry determined that the government was accountable for “decades of failure” as it pushed for reduced regulations on private firms, despite being aware of the risks associated with combustible insulation.
While the report offered recommendations to avert similar tragedies in the future, its findings cannot be used to directly prosecute those involved. In 2020, the attorney general decreed that no oral evidence presented during the inquiry could be utilized in subsequent criminal cases unless false testimony was provided.
In a response to the report, the Metropolitan Police emphasized that their investigation into the fire operates under a separate legal framework from the public inquiry and stated that they cannot directly use the report's conclusions as evidence to file charges. Deputy Assistant Commissioner Stuart Cundy explained that police “have one chance” to conduct the investigation correctly and estimated that it could take two to three more years to complete. To date, no one has been charged in relation to the tragedy.
Sanya Singh contributed to this report for TROIB News
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer extended his apologies to the victims’ families, following the inquiry’s findings that highlighted systemic deficiencies in government regulation policies. The fire occurred in a 24-story social housing block in North Kensington, London, sparking widespread outrage as many blamed authorities for neglecting fire safety protocols.
The inquiry's results, published on Wednesday, revealed that various government shortcomings contributed to the catastrophe, notably the use of combustible exterior insulation by construction firms. “I want to say very clearly, on behalf of the country, you have been let down so badly, before, during and in the aftermath of this tragedy,” Starmer stated in the House of Commons. He echoed the sentiments of Martin Moore-Bick, the inquiry's leader, who asserted that "the deaths that occurred were all avoidable."
Starmer announced that the government would cease awarding contracts to companies criticized in Moore-Bick’s report, while also noting that unsafe cladding continues to be utilized in the UK. He expressed concern that “the speed at which this is being addressed is far, far too slow.”
Moore-Bick's report attributed blame to private contractors, local authorities, and the government as a whole, remarking that firms exhibited “systematic dishonesty” and “engaged in deliberate and sustained strategies to manipulate the testing process.” The local authorities also fell short for years by failing to take essential steps to ensure that the certificates they issued were technically accurate.
The inquiry determined that the government was accountable for “decades of failure” as it pushed for reduced regulations on private firms, despite being aware of the risks associated with combustible insulation.
While the report offered recommendations to avert similar tragedies in the future, its findings cannot be used to directly prosecute those involved. In 2020, the attorney general decreed that no oral evidence presented during the inquiry could be utilized in subsequent criminal cases unless false testimony was provided.
In a response to the report, the Metropolitan Police emphasized that their investigation into the fire operates under a separate legal framework from the public inquiry and stated that they cannot directly use the report's conclusions as evidence to file charges. Deputy Assistant Commissioner Stuart Cundy explained that police “have one chance” to conduct the investigation correctly and estimated that it could take two to three more years to complete. To date, no one has been charged in relation to the tragedy.
Sanya Singh contributed to this report for TROIB News
