Angela Rayner tells of anger over shocking Grenfell report findings and urges swift justice by Met Police
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner told of her anger over the shocking findings in the Grenfell Report and urged the Met Police to bring the culprits for the blaze to justice “as quickly as possible”.
Charges for the appalling failures blamed for the blaze in June 2017 are not expected until 2026, with any court cases possibly only starting the following year, a decade after the tragedy.
Ms Rayner, who is also Housing Secretary, told Sky News: “We can’t have a situation where justice is delayed because that is justice denied so as quickly as possible the Met Police will carry out their investigations and we have got to support that process.
“What I have read has really angered me, and seeing the survivors and those that lost their loved ones...the police absolutely have our support taking the action that they need to take.”
Following the publication of Sir Martin Moore-Bick’s inquiry damining report, she told Times Radio: “This is an incredibly complex investigation.
“And as this is seven years on, and the phase two report is out, and it’s incredibly detailed, there’s considerable volumes to go through, and we will do everything we can to support the Met Police and the CPS to ensure that they can bring their findings and take their action forward as quickly as possible.
“Because, as many of the survivors and the families of the victims have said,... justice delayed, is justice denied, and I absolutely agree that this has to come as quickly as possible.”
Ministers will respond in full within six months, and will provide regular updates to Parliament on any commitments made, Sir Keir added.
The deaths of all 72 people in the 2017 blaze in west London were avoidable and had been preceded by "decades of failure" by government, other authorities and the building industry, inquiry chairman Sir Martin Moore-Bick's report concluded.
The tower block was covered in combustible products because of the "systematic dishonesty" of firms who made and sold the cladding and insulation, he added, with cladding company Arconic and insulation firms Kingspan and Celotex coming in for particularly heavy criticism.
Though he acknowledged failures stretching back to the 1990s, Sir Martin took aim at the drive for deregulation by the coalition and Conservative governments since 2010, which meant concerns about the safety of life had been "ignored, delayed or disregarded" despite the deadly Lakanal House fire which killed six people in 2009.
Grenfell United, a group which represents some bereaved and survivors, demanded for a ban on government contracts for some of the companies involved.
Survivor Marcio Gomes, whose unborn son Logan died at Grenfell, called for "serious prison time" for those complicit in the deadly fire.
The IT technician, now 45, fled from the 21st floor of Grenfell Tower with his pregnant wife and two daughters the night flames engulfed the tower in June 2017.
He said: "I'm not talking about corporate manslaughter - that's a huge fine and it means nothing. I'm talking about people doing some serious time in jail. The policeinvestigation is extremely important for the families and everybody involved who [is] after justice.”
Shah Aghlani, who lost his disabled mother and aunt in the tragedy, said: "To me it's a manslaughter charge and nothing less would do.
“Unless it's fixed, you are not safe in your own home."
Sir Keir told Parliament all firms found by the inquiry to be part of the "horrific failings" will be written to "as the first step" to stopping them being awarded such contracts.
The Prime Minister has also said it is "imperative that there is full accountability" for what happened "including through the criminal justice process".
The Metropolitan Police has said it will need an estimated 12 to 18 months to pore over the report "line by line" before any criminal charges are brought.
The force has previously said a total of 19 companies and organisations were under investigation for potential criminal offences, along with 58 individuals.
Potential offences under consideration included corporate manslaughter, gross negligence manslaughter, perverting the course of justice, misconduct in public office, health and safety offences, fraud, and offences under the fire safety and building regulations.
Sir Martin's report recommended creating a new single regulator for the construction industry, which has become "too complex and fragmented".
The Prime Minister said the inquiry's conclusion should be a "moment of change" and vowed to take measures to step up remediation of buildings still covered in dangerous cladding.