Grenfell Tower Fire Eighth Anniversary 2025-06-10

Opened the debate

On Saturday, we mark eight years since 72 people lost their lives in the Grenfell Tower fire—eight years of fighting for truth, eight years without justice, and eight years of too often glacial change. This will be the last anniversary before the tower starts to come down, and it will no longer stand as a painful symbol of injustice, greed and impunity on the west London skyline. As the tower starts to be deconstructed, it is even more important that we remember the 72 people who lost their lives, and I am sure that this House will continue to stand united with their families, the survivors and the community until justice is served and systemic change is implemented.

Government Response

I thank my hon. Friend Joe Powell for securing this important debate on the eighth anniversary of the Grenfell Tower fire. The tragedy has been a profound wake-up call, prompting an overhaul of building safety regulations in England. Since the disaster, our government has accepted all Sir Martin Moore-Bick’s recommendations and we have implemented more than 50 measures to improve building safety. We understand that many people are still living in buildings with fire safety defects. We will continue to support local authorities and housing providers as they remediate unsafe cladding materials. The Building Safety Fund is a key element of this, providing over £6 billion for the removal of unsafe ACM cladding from high-rise residential blocks. The government recognises that more needs to be done to ensure residents are not left in limbo. We are committed to reducing the time it takes for remediation work to complete and to ensuring that leaseholders are fully supported throughout this process. We will also continue our efforts to make social housing providers aware of the available funding and support. To address the issues highlighted by my hon. Friend Joe Powell, we are considering additional measures such as widening access to the Building Safety Fund for social housing providers so they can accelerate remediation work and focus on building new homes. The Minister acknowledges the ongoing impact of the Grenfell Tower tragedy and reiterates the government's commitment to systemic change. He emphasises the importance of listening to survivors' voices and addressing racial and disability discrimination factors highlighted in the inquiry. Norris commits to transparency, accountability, and swift implementation of recommendations from public inquiries. He promises that nothing will take a day longer than necessary for delivery. The Minister also outlines plans for a national oversight mechanism to track progress on the Grenfell Tower inquiry recommendations and the Hillsborough law with legal duties of candour for public servants. Additionally, he commits to supporting the independent memorial commission in creating a fitting tribute. The Minister acknowledged the ongoing issues stemming from the Grenfell Tower disaster, including budget cuts and mental health needs. He committed to working with local authorities and disability groups to ensure adequate funding and support services are in place. The response addressed challenges around social housing, remediation pace, and accessibility of the building safety fund for registered social landlords. The Minister emphasised a commitment to justice and support for the community, promising updates on these issues.