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Grenfell Tower Inquiry
02 December 2024
Lead MP
Angela Rayner
Debate Type
General Debate
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Other Contributors: 46
At a Glance
Angela Rayner raised concerns about grenfell tower inquiry in the House of Commons. Other MPs contributed to the debate.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Opened the debate
The Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Angela Rayner, emphasised the need for accountability and justice in response to the Grenfell Tower disaster. She highlighted systemic failures across various institutions that led to the biggest loss of life in a residential fire since World War II. The report revealed avoidable tragedies due to prioritising profits over people's safety. Rayner called for system change, reforming a system failing to deliver safe homes. She also announced new measures to improve fire safety and evacuation for disabled residents, and committed to addressing the recommendations made by the Grenfell inquiry. The Government aims to accelerate remediation of unsafe cladding in residential buildings by 2029, introducing new legal obligations on landlords with severe penalties for non-compliance.
Angela Rayner
Lab
Ashton-under-Lyne
The Deputy Prime Minister highlighted the need for accountability and justice in response to the Grenfell Tower disaster. She emphasised systemic failures across institutions that led to avoidable tragedies due to prioritising profits over people's safety. The Government committed to addressing recommendations made by the inquiry, accelerating remediation of unsafe cladding, introducing new legal obligations on landlords, and ensuring residents are supported during the process.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Jim Shannon commended the Deputy Prime Minister's constructive approach to implementing measures in response to the Grenfell Tower disaster. He asked if actions would be taken to hold companies accountable and whether all findings would be shared with devolved Administrations.
Clive Betts
Lab
Sheffield South East
Clive Betts emphasised that social housing tenants and leaseholders should not bear the burden of rectifying unsafe buildings. He noted that while some developers have been held financially accountable, manufacturers responsible for safety issues have avoided liability.
Meg Hillier
Lab Co-op
Hackney South and Shoreditch
Meg Hillier welcomed the acceleration of action but sought clarity on when these measures would positively impact constituents facing financial hardships due to cladding issues.
Pete Wishart
SNP
Perth and Kinross-shire
Pete Wishart highlighted individuals who lost property value or faced repossession because of cladding problems, asking for advice and measures to address such situations.
Apsana Begum
Lab
Poplar and Limehouse
Apsana Begum sought assurance that penalties for landlords non-compliant with the remediation plan would include restrictions on expanding portfolios or continuing to build, ensuring accountability.
Clive Betts
Lab
Sheffield South East
Again emphasising manufacturers' responsibility, Clive Betts suggested providing guidance to local authorities and public bodies against awarding contracts to companies involved in the Grenfell disaster.
Matt Rodda
Lab
Reading Central
Matt Rodda welcomed measures but highlighted challenges with poor workmanship leading to fire risks, urging for better guidance on proper construction practices.
Kevin Hollinrake
Con
Thirsk and Malton
Grenfell Tower fire was an unthinkable tragedy claiming 72 lives. The state failed in its duty to protect, leading to decisive action from the Conservative Government including a public inquiry, banning combustible materials on new buildings over 18 metres and establishing a remediation fund. More than £5.1 billion has been allocated for building remediation efforts have prioritised high-risk buildings. Recommendations include centralising fire safety responsibilities under one Secretary of State.
Clive Betts
Lab
Sheffield South East
Concerns about product manufacturers going from one testing place to another until they find agreement on their products being safe, leading to failures not in the public domain. Suggests changing processes so that when a product fails, this failure is made known publicly.
Meg Hillier
Lab Co-op
Hackney South and Shoreditch
Raises concern about shortage of fire safety surveyors, trained over three years. Urges future Governments to address such issues early to avoid shortages like the one currently in 2024.
Tom Hayes
Lab
Bournemouth East
Highlights constituents' desire for justice and an end to social housing stigma, advocating for a turning point where those who were let down by previous Governments receive justice. Emphasises the need to address the social housing stigma.
Joe Powell
Lab
Kensington and Bayswater
Mr Powell paid tribute to the next of kin, bereaved, survivors and community members affected by the Grenfell Tower tragedy. He urged相关部门对此事的回应和措施，以及对未来的期望。他还提到了一些具体的案例来说明问题的严重性，并提出了改善公共住房质量的具体行动方案。
Florence Eshalomi
Lab Co-op
Vauxhall and Camberwell Green
Ms Eshalomi thanked her hon. Friend for his powerful speech on behalf of his constituents, agreeing that addressing residents', tenants' and leaseholders' concerns in a timely manner with good customer care does not cost any money.
Gideon Amos
Lib Dem
Taunton and Wellington
Liberal Democrats stand firmly with the bereaved and their communities, emphasising that they must be respected. They welcome the Government's commitment to address all recommendations in Sir Martin Moore-Bick’s phase 2 report but criticise the pace of remediation work, stating that 66% of buildings are still waiting for unsafe cladding removal despite seven years having passed. The speech highlights the financial burden on tenants and leaseholders who have been made to pay for remediation costs unfairly, urging the Government to ensure no tenants or leaseholders pay towards such work. It also calls for a legally enforceable order for remediation with criminal sanctions and emphasises the need for a culture change in building control from policing developers to working under commercial duress, suggesting public control of building inspectors and fire engineers.
Wera Hobhouse
Lib Dem
Bath
She thanks her hon. Friend Gideon Amos for his powerful speech and agrees that many problems have arisen from poor local authority funding, undermining building control services.
Florence Eshalomi
Lab Co-op
Vauxhall and Camberwell Green
Commends her colleague for championing the cause of his constituents and focuses on the survivors and victims of Grenfell. She highlights the long battle for justice, systematic failures in oversight, and the need to address inequalities exposed by the disaster. She welcomes the Government's commitment to remediation deadlines but urges them to do more. Eshalomi also emphasises the importance of listening to tenants and addressing the disproportionate impact on black and minority ethnic communities as well as disabled people.
Bernard Jenkin
Con
Harwich and North Essex
Calls for an independent building safety investigation branch to oversee systemic issues without conflicts of interest. Emphasises the need for a standing body rather than public inquiries, citing examples from rail and aviation sectors where similar bodies have proven effective.
Calvin Bailey
Lab
Leyton and Wanstead
Highlights delays in addressing fire safety issues affecting constituents, calling for faster action and accountability to ensure that disputes do not delay remediation work.
Meg Hillier
Lab Co-op
Hackney South and Shoreditch
Suggests a proper review process of all coroners’ recommendations and public inquiry findings, ensuring follow-up action to prevent the delivery of justice from being inhibited due to delays.
Kevin Hollinrake
Con
Thirsk and Malton
Supports the idea of a single construction regulator for investigations, aligning with the need for an integrated approach in addressing systemic failures in building safety.
Gideon Amos
Lib Dem
Taunton and Wellington
Questions the role of private sector inspectors, citing potential conflicts of interest and historical opposition to privatisation from professional bodies like the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.
Andrew Slaughter
Lab
Hammersmith and Chiswick
Seven and a half years on from the Grenfell Tower fire, it often feels that we are no further forward than the last debate, silent walk or stage of the inquiry. There have been no prosecutions, no accountability and insufficient movement on remediation of buildings, including those with flammable cladding... We must not allow another situation in which warnings are missed, accountability falls through the cracks and responsibility is denied or passed on. However, although the phase 2 recommendations seek to fix the gap in fire safety to prevent future deaths, we must not lose sight of justice for the victims of the fire and for the survivors...
Shockat Adam
Ind
Leicester South
Adam emphasises the importance of justice for victims and survivors of the Grenfell disaster. He supports the Deputy Prime Minister's commitment to implementing all 58 recommendations from the inquiry, highlighting that remediation of unsafe cladding must be expedited. He raises concerns about bureaucratic delays affecting the residents of Abbey House in Leicester South who are living under constant fear due to lack of resolution regarding their building’s safety.
Uma Kumaran
Lab
Stratford and Bow
Kumaran pays tribute to victims and survivors of the Grenfell disaster, expressing deep anger at institutional failures. She highlights that residents in her constituency are living in fear due to unsafe cladding issues and faces significant financial uncertainty. She urges for immediate remediation works and calls for Government funds to ensure all buildings become safe without leaseholders bearing additional costs.
Tessa Munt
Lib Dem
Wells and Mendip Hills
Discussed the Building Safety Act 2022, highlighting an anomaly in non-qualified leaseholder status. Emphasised that her constituents were unaware of their legal rights being changed due to owning multiple properties on a specific date. Stressed the unfairness and confusion caused by this legislation, leading to financial risks for leaseholders, difficulty selling flats, reduced property values, and lack of lender support.
Manuela Perteghella
Lib Dem
Stratford-on-Avon
Agreed with Tessa Munt's remarks, emphasising the failure of successive Governments to protect citizens from the Grenfell Tower tragedy and urging urgent action to assist all leaseholders, including those excluded by non-qualified leaseholder status.
Ben Coleman
Lab
Chelsea and Fulham
Coleman emphasised the need for mandated personal emergency evacuation plans for disabled residents in residential buildings. He criticised Kensington and Chelsea council for not listening to social housing residents' concerns prior to the Grenfell fire, describing the council's response as 'cruel'. Coleman highlighted that community support was essential when local authorities failed and expressed hope that there would be an annual debate on similar issues.
Iqbal Mohamed
Ind
Dewsbury and Batley
Mohamed welcomed the Deputy Prime Minister's statement but criticised the timescales for making properties safe, calling for a 2029 deadline to ensure remediation of all buildings. He expressed concerns about property developers cutting corners and disregarding public safety. Mohamed urged the Government to nationalise the process of fixing high-rise flats to eliminate administration fees.
Darren Paffey
Lab
Southampton Itchen
Paffey highlighted the anxieties faced by residents in Southampton Itchen due to unsafe cladding and fire safety risks. He shared examples of constituents facing service charge hikes and unexpected bills, calling for a clearly defined single construction regulator and improved regulation of insurance and service charges.
Siân Berry
Green
Brighton Pavilion
Berry discussed the impact of the Grenfell disaster on her work and the continuing issues faced by residents in high-rise buildings. She emphasised the need for better management, transparency, and implementation of recommendations from the report to build trust with residents.
Meg Hillier
Lab Co-op
Hackney South and Shoreditch
Hillier highlighted the severe impact in Hackney due to unsafe buildings. She mentioned that 93% of buildings in Hackney are at high risk, leading to issues like insurance premiums rising and leaseholders facing bankruptcy. Hillier also called for better regulation on offshore ownership and stressed the importance of having skilled construction workers.
Luke Taylor
Lib Dem
Sutton and Cheam
Taylor underscored the urgency to remove dangerous cladding and highlighted the failure of previous governments in providing adequate funding for local authorities. He emphasised that leaseholders should not bear any financial burden for safety improvements, as these are a result of industry failures.
Dawn Butler
Lab
Brent East
Expressed sympathy for survivors and next of kin, highlighted systemic issues affecting minoritised groups, emphasised the need for a thorough investigation into council actions and funds. Criticised the decision to install cladding for aesthetic reasons and called for honesty about the root causes of the disaster.
Sarah Hall
Lab Co-op
Warrington South
Highlighted parallels between Grenfell Tower fire and Summerland fire in 1973, emphasised the importance of learning from history to prevent future disasters. Called for justice for both incidents.
Brian Leishman
Lab
Alloa and Grangemouth
Stressed the importance of regulations in keeping people safe, criticised delays in holding those responsible accountable, and called for urgent implementation of life-saving changes. Highlighted ongoing issues affecting working-class communities and called for investment in fire services.
Christopher Vince
Lab Co-op
Harlow
Expressed sympathy to families affected by Grenfell Tower fire, shared testimony from a firefighter highlighting failures in post-incident support. Emphasised systematic dishonesty of those involved and called for retrospective installation of sprinkler systems in care homes.
Emily Darlington
Lab
Milton Keynes Central
Ms Darlington highlighted the ongoing impact of Grenfell on residents in her constituency, particularly a woman named Angie who faced significant financial hardship due to increased insurance costs. She welcomed the Government’s announcement to address these issues but also criticised previous governments for not acting quickly enough. Ms Darlington noted that local authorities such as Milton Keynes Central had acted promptly after the tragedy and called for recognition of proactive councils through funding support. She urged the Secretary of State to review planning rules to ensure no building is unsafe, and questioned whether building control should be fully in the hands of local authorities or potentially renationalised.
John Slinger
Lab
Rugby
Mr Slinger strongly welcomed the Deputy Prime Minister’s statement on addressing the Grenfell tragedy's consequences, emphasising the importance of justice not being delayed and ensuring individuals, organisations, and companies are held accountable. He argued that this is crucial for public confidence and as a deterrent to future failures, drawing parallels with past cases where insufficient justice was rendered.
Vauxhall
She discussed the rise of tenant management organisations and highlighted governance issues that created barriers between local authorities, freeholders, and tenants.
Meg Hillier
Lab Co-op
Hackney South and Shoreditch
She emphasised the need for skilled personnel to carry out remediation work more quickly. She raised concerns about delays in addressing risks due to a lack of capacity.
Andy Slaughter
Lab
Hammersmith and Chiswick
He highlighted new risks such as large numbers of lithium batteries in residential settings, which pose challenges for fire brigades. He stressed the need for proper equipment and technology to address these emerging issues.
Bernard Jenkin
Con
Harwich and North Essex
He contributed a thoughtful and considered speech about the importance of an effective, independent system for managing building safety risks. He emphasised the need for local authorities and landlords to have tools to ensure safety without compromising resident well-being.
Alex Norris
Lab Co-op
Nottingham North and Kimberley
The speech outlines the need for systemic change in building safety due to the Grenfell tragedy. It mentions leaseholder protections, insurance issues, justice for victims, local authority responsibilities, and efforts to accelerate remediation of unsafe cladding in buildings.
Joe Powell
Lab
Kensington and Bayswater
Discussed the ongoing pain and anger among survivors and families impacted by the Grenfell tragedy. Highlighted the need for a single, Government-led response to break the cycle of blame.
Vauxhall and Camberwell Green
Spoke about the systematic challenges in the building safety industry highlighted by various reports. Called for more comprehensive action on reforming the whole system.
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