Grenfell inquiry LIVE: Keir Starmer 'deeply sorry' as Grenfell report exposes 'systematic dishonesty'

Sir Keir Starmer issued an apology from the British state to bereaved families and survivors of the Grenfell Tower scandal following the publication of a damning inquiry report.

The Prime Minister also demanded swift justice, including through the criminal courts, for those to blame for the catastrophic blaze in west London in June 2017 which claimed the lives of 72 people.

With some Grenfell survivors in the public gallery in the Commons, Sir Keir told the Commons on Wednesday: “I want to start with an apology on behalf of the British state to each and every one of you…and indeed to all the families affected by this tragedy.”

He added: “The country failed to discharge its most fundamental duty… to protect you and your loved ones...the people we are here to serve.

“And I am deeply sorry.”

He slammed the “horrific failures” outlined in detail in a 1,600-page report by the Grenfell Inquiry and stressed companies involved would be barred from getting government contracts.

The Prime Minister stressed: “Today is a long-awaited day of truth…but it must now lead to a day of justice.”

He emphasised the Government’s backing to deliver a permanent memorial of the Grenfell tragedy on the site in west London.

The document, released at 11am on Wednesday, lays bare the inquiry’s findings around the actions of corporate firms in the construction industry, the local authority, London Fire Brigade and government.

It found that says Grenfell Tower was turned into a death trap by “dishonest” construction firms, architects and negligent politicians who ignored fire safety for decades.

Follow the latest updates below....

Key points

• Report points finger of blame at construction industry, council, London Fire Brigade and government

• All 72 deaths were avoidable, says inquiry chair

• 'I am deeply sorry' - Sir Keir Starmer apologises to Grenfell bereaved and survivors

• CPS says decisions on criminal prosecutions not expected for two years

• Victims and bereaved call on PM to 'make this the turning point for Britain'

Archbishop of Canterbury calls for 'meaningful change'

16:43 , John Dunne

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby called for “deep reflection and meaningful change” after the Grenfell report, describing it as “chilling to read that systematic dishonesty and a refusal to listen to concerns were in part to blame for Grenfell Tower becoming a death trap”.

He added: “This tragedy shows us that we must cherish and protect everyone in our society, and that safety should not just be the preserve of the wealthy.

“We must commit to building a housing system that is safe and fair for everyone in this country.”

Irish premier urges Grenfell report companies to 'reflect' on findings

16:21 , John Dunne

Irish premier Simon Harris has urged companies named in the report on the Grenfell Tower fire to “reflect fully” on its findings.

Asked if he has any concerns about buildings in Ireland after Irish insulation company Kingspan was named in the report, Mr Harris said: “I need to be careful on this because I haven’t read the Grenfell inquiry report that came out relatively recently.

“I want to obviously, again, remember those who died in the Grenfell tragedy.

“I think of their families today and think how painful today must be.

“I’m also conscious that they would have waited a very long time for this final report.

“I will take the time to read it, to reflect on it with my officials to see if there are any learnings for Ireland, and I would obviously encourage any company referenced in the report to do likewise.”

Fire Brigade Union says government deregulation of building safety 'shocking'

16:07 , John Dunne

The Government played a “shocking” role in deregulating building safety before the Grenfell Tower fire, the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) chief has said.

The near-1,700 page public inquiry report into the blaze was published on Wednesday, and said the disaster was “the culmination of decades of failure” by the government and other construction industry bodies to sufficiently investigate and act on the dangers of using combustible material in high-rise buildings.

Speaking at the Grenfell Memorial Wall in west London on Wednesday, Matt Wrack, general secretary of the FBU, said the union was “vindicated” by its findings, particularly its criticisms of the deregulation of the building industry.

The report says that by 2016, a year before the Grenfell fire, the government was “well aware” of the risks of using combustible cladding panels and insulation, particularly in high-rise buildings, “but failed to act on what it knew”.

A drive within government, years before the fire, for deregulation, meant concerns about the safety of life had been “ignored, delayed or disregarded”, the report said, despite the deadly Lakanal House fire which killed six people in 2009.

Mr Wrack said: “That will be shocking to people reading press reports about the inquiry and its findings, that for decades we’ve had ministers responsible for building safety, for fire safety policy, and prime ministers who have overseen an agenda determined to get rid of regulations, and those regulations were the means by which buildings were kept safe for the people living in them.

“It is shocking to hear that we’ve had governments who have overseen the deregulation and turning buildings into unsafe places to live.”

He called on Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to “take firm action” to “fundamentally alter the building safety regime” in the UK, adding that the Government “can’t afford to miss that opportunity”.

Kensington and Chelsea council apologises for 'failure to protect' Grenfell residents and treat them with ‘humanity and care’

15:04

The leader of Kensington and Chelsea council has apologised “unreservedly” to the families left bereaved by the Grenfell Tower tragedy.

Elizabeth Campbell admitted the Tory-run borough both failed to keep residents safe, and failed to treat them with “humanity and care” in the aftermath of the fire.

Ms Campbell became council leader a month after the June 2017 blaze, following the resignation of Nick Paget-Brown.

She said today: “On behalf of the council, I apologise unreservedly and with my whole heart to the bereaved, survivors and residents of Grenfell for our failure to listen and protect them.

“The inquiry has laid bare the chain of events that led to that night. We will fully accept its findings, which are a withering critique of a system broken from top to bottom. It shows beyond doubt that this council failed the residents of Grenfell Tower and the 72 people, including 18 children, who died.

“We failed to keep people safe before and during the refurbishment and we failed to treat people with humanity and care in the aftermath.

“We will learn from every single criticism in the report. We will take time to study it further in detail, listen to the reflections from our communities, and publish a full and formal response in the autumn.”

Read the full story, by the Standard’s City Hall and Transport Editor Ross Lydall, here.

Distrust and anger of Grenfell landlords led to 'serious failure', report finds

14:35

The distrust, dislike and anger of the Grenfell Tower landlords towards its residents led to “a serious failure” to observe “basic responsibilities” to them, an inquiry report has concluded.

The chairman of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, Sir Martin Moore-Bick, said some residents regarded Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation (KCTMO) as a “bullying overlord” and a “toxic atmosphere” was “fuelled by mistrust on both sides”.

The report concluded the KCTMO “lost sight” of the fact that residents “depended on it for a safe and decent home”, and it regarded some as “militant troublemakers”.

Former Tower resident Edward Daffarn said he knew the report was “not going to be a Poirot moment where a murderer will be revealed and in fact all the suspects were carrying the knife”.

“I don’t think any recommendations will ever go far enough,” he said.

“I think we are at a very significant moment in the Grenfell journey.

“We’ve waited seven years for change and it hasn’t come – this report needs to be a catalyst for change, we need to make sure these recommendations are enacted, are enacted without delay.”

Mr Daffarn added that he is “not confident” all the recommendations will be implemented.

“But if they were and if the construction industry changed, and if the social housing regulation Bill is fully enforced, and people in social housing are treated better than they were before the fire, there will be some sort of legacy,” he said.

Despite the findings, the report concluded that the inquiry had seen “no evidence that any decisions directly affecting the design or execution of the refurbishment (completed in 2016) were affected by racial or social prejudice”.

Survivor says he has been 'messed up' since night of fire

14:22 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

Grenfell Tower survivor Francis Dean has criticised what he called the “seven-year delay to justice” as he and others wait for criminal prosecutions to be brought.

“Since that night I’ve not been the same person, I’m messed up,” he said at a briefing given by members of a support group for the next of kin in central London.

“The government at the time promised us justice. I hope this current Government can take up the lead.”

Bereaved call for 'justice' and for manslaughter charges to be brought

14:18 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

A man whose sister was killed in the Grenfell Tower tragedy has said the inquiry has delayed the justice owed to him and other bereaved families.

Karim Khalloufi, whose sister Khadija was among the 72 who died, told a press conference in central London: “Maybe I will die without having justice”.

Another victim’s relative told the event at the Royal Lancaster London hotel he wanted manslaughter charges to be brought, adding “nothing else will do”.

The Crown Prosecution Service has said decisions on potential criminal prosecutions are not expected for another two years.

Angela Rayner: 'On behalf of the British state we apologise'

13:46 , Jacob Phillips

Angela Rayner promised to “work tirelessly” to “deliver a stronger culture of safety” following the publication of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry’s final report.

The Deputy Prime Minister, who also serves as Housing Secretary, said in a post on X, formerly Twitter: “We remember the 72 innocent lives lost in the Grenfell Tower tragedy. My thoughts are with the bereaved families, the survivors and residents in the immediate community.

“As Keir Starmer said, on behalf of the British state we apologise to each and every one of them.

“The Grenfell community has campaigned tirelessly to push for justice & change.

“My promise to them is to work tirelessly, with urgency & care, to deliver a stronger culture of safety across the system from top to bottom.”

'The shameless merry-go-round of buck-passing' says Kensington MP

13:40 , Jacob Phillips

Joe Powell, the Labour MP for Kensington and Bayswater, said deaths at Grenfell Tower in his constituency were the result of individuals and organisations that were “systematically dishonest and put profit before people’s lives”.

He told MPs: “This is a very painful day for the community. Prime Minister, the shameless merry-go-round of buck-passing that has happened for the last seven years since Grenfell must now come to an end.

“So I want to thank you for your personal commitment to drive the lasting change and to hold people accountable.”

He added: “Can (the Prime Minister) commit to ensuring that companies identified in this report will be excluded from public contracts, held account to the full extent of the law and pay their full weight of financial remediation for the building safety remedial work that is needed?”

Sir Keir Starmer responded: “I can confirm that we will do everything to make sure there is full accountability, including criminal accountability where appropriate.

“I do remind the House that notwithstanding the strong findings in the report, it is the last thing now that the victims, bereaved and the community want or need is for anything to go wrong with possible legal proceedings, so we must all bear that in mind, but I absolutely understand the sentiment, and in relation to the contracts, I stand by what I said in my statement.”

Rishi Sunak pays tribute to 'strength and patience' of Grenfell survivors

13:26 , Jacob Phillips

Leader of the opposition Rishi Sunak has paid tribute to the “strength and patience” of Grenfell Tower survivors, some of whom were in the House of Commons public gallery.

Responding to the Prime Minister’s statement, the Tory leader said: “It is not hyperbole to say that we would not be here today without them.

“It was their tenacity and strength that brought the truth to light and for that, they deserve our thanks.

“Their search for truth and justice is a noble one, and for that, they have our full support.”

'This inquiry delayed the justice that my family deserves' says man who lost six relatives in Grenfell fire

13:22 , Jacob Phillips

Hisam Choucair, who lost his mother, his sister and her husband, and their three daughters in the Grenfell fire, has said the Grenfell Inquiry was “forced on us”.

He described how the inquiry has “put an extra nail in the coffin”.

He explained: “Where do you begin? First of all my commiserations go out to all family members who are here who have lost loved ones due to this inferno.

“My thoughts and prayers are with you all and I just feel everybody’s pain which is why I am here today.

“I would like to thank the inquiry for their findings and their recommendations but the most important thing that we need to realise and understand is we did not ask for this inquiry.”

He explained the inquiry was launched very quickly after the fire and that the Grenfell community did not know what it would mean or how it would impact on their justice.

He continued: “This inquiry has not taught me anything in fact it delayed the justice that my family deserves. The only person I can blame for that is the government.”

'Justice means manslaughter charges' says Grenfell Next of Kin representative

13:10 , Jacob Phillips

Away from the Commons, Grenfell Next of Kin , a group of bereaved and survivors, has been holding a press conference.

Following a moment’s silence for those who were killed in the fire, a representative of the group opened the conference saying: “When tragedy happens and particularly when it is of such a public nature, the personal loss of those family members is completely lost in the machine that kicks into place.

She added: “For the press and the Inquiry this is a milestone moment, for the families it is not anything they didn’t know already and the only thing they have asked for from the beginning is justice. And justice means manslaughter charges.”

She proceeded to weigh a physical copy of the report. Both volumes weighed 7.5kg,

'This tragedy poses fundamental questions about the kind of country we are' says Starmer

12:59 , Jacob Phillips

The Prime Minister continued to tell the Commons: “This tragedy poses fundamental questions about the kind of country we are.

“A country where the voices of working class people and those of colour have been repeatedly ignored and dismissed.

“A country where tenants of a housing block in one of the richest parts of the land are treated like second class citizens.

“Shamefully dismissed, in the words of one survivor ‘as people with needs and problems not respected as citizens, as people who contribute to Britain, who are part of Britain, who belong in Britain.’”

Starmer praises those who spoke at the Grenfell Inquiry

12:54 , Jacob Phillips

The Prime Minister has said he considers himself someone who is responsible for building safety and that “today is a long awaited day of truth.”

Sir Keir Starmer said it must now lead to a day of justice.

He continued: “I also want to express my admiration for the strength it must have taken to relive these events when giving your evidence to the inquiry and indeed to see written down today the circumstances that led to the death of your loved ones.

“After all you have been through you may feel you are always one step away from another betrayal. I get that and I know I can not change that with words today.”

Starmer apologises to Grenfell bereaved and survivors

12:51 , Jacob Phillips

The Prime Minister has called for “full accountability” following the Grenfell Inquiry.

He also pointed out that the report said there was decades of failure by central government.

He told the Commons: “I want to start with an apology on behalf of the British state to each and every one of you and indeed to all of the families affected by this tragedy. It should never have happened.

“The country failed to discharge its most fundamental duty. To protect you and your loves ones. The people we are here to serve and I am deeply sorry.”

'You have been let down so badly before, during and in the aftermath of this tragedy' says Starmer

12:48 , Jacob Phillips

The Prime Minister has continued to speak directly to the Grenfell community.

He said: “In the face of a injustice so painful, so deserving of anger. Words can begin to lose their meaning. Seven years still waiting for the justice you deserve.

“I want to say very clearly on the behalf of the country you have been let down so badly before, during and in the aftermath of this tragedy.

Grenfell Tower residents 'failed by just about every institution responsible' says PM

12:46 , Jacob Phillips

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has been making a statement in the House of Commons following the Grenfell Inquiry report.

He said: “I want to speak directly to the bereaved families, to the survivors, and those in the immediate Grenfell community...

“Sir Martin concluded this morning, and I am afraid there is no way of repeating this that won’t be painful, he said the simple truth is the deaths that occurred were all avoidable.

“And that those that lived in the tower were badly failed over a number of years and in a number of different ways by, as the report lays out in full, just about every institution responsible of ensuring their safety.”

Theresa May: 'Report is significant step in providing Grenfell community with answers'

12:41

Former prime minister Theresa May has paid tribute to the bereaved families from the Grenfell Tower tragedy.

She said: “Today’s report into the Grenfell Tower fire is a significant step in providing the Grenfell community with the answers they deserve after 72 people died – deaths that we now know were avoidable – while the lives of their loved ones, and all those living in and around the tower, were changed irrevocably that night.

“I would like to thank Sir Martin (Moore-Bick) and his team for the dedication and tenacity they have shown in getting to the truth and for this forensic and powerful final report.

“I know that, while necessary, the inquiry process can be immensely distressing for all those involved.

“I would like to pay tribute to the bereaved families and the survivors for the dignity they have shown in the face of a tragedy so extreme, it is beyond our imagining.

“Children, parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews, good friends and loving partners, were all lost the night of the fire.

“Amid this devastation, the people of Grenfell not only began rebuilding their lives, they also consistently campaigned for justice for those who died.”

Theresa May says government and regulators must acknowledge 'series of events that led to tragedy'

12:33 , Jacob Phillips

Theresa May, who was prime minister at the time of the Grenfell Tower disaster in 2017 has said national and local government, regulators and industry “must all acknowledge their part in the history and series of events that led to this tragedy”.

Tearful architect who worked on Grenfell inquiry calls for 'culture change' after 'widespread incompetence'

12:22

An architect who worked on the Grenfell Tower inquiry fought back tears as she called for a “culture change” to put fire safety at the heart of building construction in the UK.

Thouria Istephan said the inquiry “left a mark on me as a person...which will last far beyond the inquiry”.

You can watch her address below, and read more here.

What recommendations does the report make?

12:17 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

The recommendations made by inquiry chair Sir Martin are contained in the 14th and final part of his lengthy report.

The recommendations outlined include:

• The appointment of a construction regulator to oversee all aspects of the construction industry

• Bringing responsibility for all aspects of fire safety under one government department

• The establishment of a body of professional fire engineers, properly regulated and with protected status and the introduction of mandatory fire safety strategies for higher-risk buildings

• A licensing scheme for contractors wishing to undertake the construction or refurbishment of higher-risk buildings

• The regulation and mandatory accreditation of fire risk assessors

• The establishment of a College of Fire and Rescue to provide practical, educational and managerial training to fire and rescue services

• The introduction of a requirement for the government to maintain a publicly accessible record of recommendations made by select committees, coroners and public inquiries, describing the steps taken in response or its reasons for declining to implement them.

Sir Martin said that while “some” steps have already been taken to respond to the “many” failures identified, “we think that more can and should be done to bring about a fundamental change in the attitudes and practices of the construction industry”.

“Only such a change can ensure that in future buildings in general, and higher-risk buildings in particular, are safe for those who live and work in them,” he added.

What has Grenfell Tower inquiry concluded about construction industry?

12:08 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

We’ve been summarising the various conclusions Sir Martin has made about the various companies and bodies whose failings contributed to the Grenfell Tower disaster.

The tower block covered in flammable materials because of “systematic dishonesty” from those who made and sold cladding and insulation, Sir Martin’s final report has concluded.

For a full summary of the main firms involved and what the inquiry into the disaster said about them, click here.

CPS says decisions on prosecutions not expected for two years

12:01 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

Decisions on potential criminal prosecutions over the Grenfell Tower fire are not expected for another two years, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has said.

Frank Ferguson, head of the CPS special crime and counter-terrorism division, said: “Our thoughts remain with the bereaved families and the survivors at what must be an extremely difficult time.

“We have been working closely with the Metropolitan Police Service throughout their investigation and will therefore be in a strong position to review the completed evidential file, which they anticipate will be passed to us in 2026.

“Our team of specialist prosecutors will then carefully review the file but do not expect to be in a position to make any charging decisions until the end of 2026.

“Due to the sheer volume of evidence and complexity of the investigation, we will need to take the necessary time to thoroughly evaluate the evidence before providing final charging decisions.”

Grenfell Tower families call on PM to 'make this the turning point for Britain'

12:00 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

Grenfell United, which represents survivors and those bereaved by the tragedy, have just given a press conference responding to the report.

“Today we send a message to Keir Starmer and his govenrment,” they said. “This country has been failed by governments of all political persuasions.

“Our expectation is that your government will break old habits and implement all the recommendations made by Sir Martin Moore-Bick’s report without further delays.

“Because the time to address this is already three decades too late. For the report to be worth anything, it must...bring systematic change.

“To prevent another tragedy like Grenfell, your government must...separate itself from the construction industry and corporate lobbying.

“You must now, finally, make this the turning point for Britain.”

To the police and Crown Prosecution Service, they added: “It’s now on you to deliver justice, to bring charges to those culpable for the deaths of our loved ones.”

London Fire Brigade had 'chronic lack of effective management', says report

11:44 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

London Fire Brigade – which was heavily in the Inquiry’s first report for its response to the fire – had a “chronic lack of effective management and leadership”, concluded Sir Martin, where problems were considered “undeserving of change or too difficult to resolve, even when they concerned operational or public safety”.

Council 'bears considerable responsibility for dangerous condition of building'

11:43

The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea’s building control department “failed to perform its statutory function of ensuring that the design of the refurbishment complied with the building regulations,” said Sir Martin in his report.

“It therefore bears considerable responsibility for the dangerous condition of the building immediately on completion of the work.”

The council’s arms-length Tenant Management Organisation (TMO) was seen by Grenfell residents as an “uncaring and bullying overlord that belittled and marginalised them, regarded them as a nuisance, or worse, and failed to take their concerns seriously.”

Sir Martin said the TMO had “lost sight” of its role providing safe places to live, and “failed to take the steps necessary to ensure that it was met”.

Watch: 'The deaths that occurred were all avoidable and residents were badly failed' says chair

11:41 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

Lessons should have been learned from 2009 high-rise fire that 'foreshadowed' Grenfell, says inquiry chair

11:38 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

Turning to politicians and officials, inquiry chair Sir Martin highlighted the 2009 Lakanal House fire in Camberwell, south London as a major missed opportunity to bring a renewed focus on fire safety across the UK, while dire warnings of a coroner and MPs were ignored.

His report found that the Lakanal House fire “foreshadowed” the 2017 Grenfell Tower blaze.

It concluded that the LFB failed to “implement any effective response” to the fire in July 2009, which claimed six lives, despite understanding its lessons.

Meanwhile Sir Martin said: “The government’s deregulatory agenda, enthusiastically supported by some junior ministers and the Secretary of State, dominated the department’s thinking to such an extent that even matters affecting the safety of life were ignored, delayed or disregarded.”

Sir Martin went back to a 1991 tower block fire in Merseyside, and said there had been “many opportunities for the government to identify the risks posed by the use of combustible cladding panels and insulation, particularly to high rise buildings, and to take action in relation to them.

“Indeed by 2016, the department was well aware of those risks, but failed to act on what it knew.”

You can read more about this here.

Insulation manufacturer also 'misled customers' about safety, says inquiry report

11:34

Sir Martin also said Celotex - which manufactured RS5000, the principal insulation product used on Grenfell Tower - had “embarked on a dishonest scheme to mislead its customers and the wider market” on the safety of its products.

Cladding manufacturer 'deliberately hid extent of material's dangers'

11:33

Sir Martin also found that Arconic Architectural Products, which manufactured and sold Reynobond 55 PE rainscreen panels used in the external walls of Grenfell Tower, had from 2005 to 2017 “deliberately concealed from the market the true extent of the danger of using Reynobond 55 PE in cassette form, particularly on high-rise buildings.”

Architects managed Grenfell refurbishment with 'cavalier attitude' to safety, says inquiry

11:30

Sir Martin picked out architects Studio E, principal contractor Rydon, sub-contractors Harley and Exova, and the Kensington and Chelsea Council as sharing primary blame for the disaster.

“One very significant reason why Grenfell tower came to be clad in combustible materials was systematic dishonesty on the part of those who made and sold the rainscreen cladding panels and insulation products”, he said.

“They engaged in deliberate and sustained strategies to manipulate the testing processes, misrepresent test data and mislead the market.”

He said Studio E managed the refurbishment with a “cavalier attitude” to fire safety regulations and failed to act when the outer walls of Grenfell were covered in dangerous cladding, so must “bear a very significant degree of responsibility for the disaster”.

Rydon “gave inadequate thought to fire safety, to which it displayed a casual attitude throughout the project”, while cladding sub-contractor Harley “failed in many respects to meet the standards to be expected of a reasonably competent cladding contractor and it too bears a significant degree of responsibility for the fire.”

Firms failed to perform 'most basic duties of care', say survivors and bereaved

11:28 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

Grenfell United, which represents some of the bereaved and survivors of the fire, has said the report “speaks to a lack of competence, understanding and a fundamental failure to perform the most basic of duties of care”, as they called for a ban on guilty construction firms receiving government contracts.

Police and prosecutors must “ensure that those who are truly responsible are held to account and brought to justice”, they added.

Sadiq Khan: Residents paid price for neglect and corporate greed, as he calls for criminal charges

11:25

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has said residents of Grenfell Tower “paid a price for systemic dishonesty, corporate greed and institutional indifference and neglect”.

He said firms held responsible by the inquiry should be banned from receiving public contracts, and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) should look into bringing criminal cases.

Mr Khan said: “The Grenfell Tower fire isn’t just a heart-breaking tragedy, it’s a horrific injustice and a national disgrace. That the lives of 72 Londoners were stolen from us in such circumstances is a moral outrage.

“The inquiry makes clear in stark terms that all these deaths were entirely avoidable, and that the residents of Grenfell Tower have paid the price for systematic dishonesty, corporate greed and institutional indifference and neglect.”

He said “profit has been put before people” which “isn’t just shameful, it’s utterly indefensible”.

Mr Khan added that “more must now be done to hold those responsible to account, including banning any of the companies held responsible by the inquiry from receiving any public contracts as the police and CPS look into bringing criminal prosecutions”.

'All those who lived in the tower were badly failed over a number of years' says Inquiry chair

11:19

We are still hearing from enquiry chair Sir Martin Moore-Bick, as he outlines the details of his incredibly damning report.

"The simple truth is that the deaths that occurred were all avoidable and those who lived in the tower were badly failed over a number of years and in a number of different ways by those who were responsible for ensuring the safety of the building and its occupants,” he has said.

London Fire Brigade vows to continue work to ensure buildings are safe

11:15 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

London Fire Brigade has said it is now “better prepared” to respond to high-rise fires but has vowed not to be “complacent”.

Sir Martin found a number of issues with the way LFB responded to the tragedy, during phase one of the inquiry.

London Fire Commissioner Andy Roe today described the blaze as “the most formidable challenge that any fire service in the UK has confronted in living memory”.

“Staff responding to the fire on the night of the tragedy, as well as members of other emergency services who attended in support of the Brigade, showed extreme courage in the face of the most appalling of circumstances,” he said.

“In 2019, the Brigade accepted every recommendation from the Phase 1 report and we have since implemented significant changes to how we operate. This year, we completed every recommendation directed at us as part of Phase 1.

“We have introduced important policies, new equipment, improved training and better ways of working, particularly in how we respond to fires in high-rise residential buildings, and Londoners are safer as a result. This was evidenced at the awful fire in Dagenham late last month.

“While we are now better prepared to respond to high-rise fires, we are not complacent.

“We are in dialogue with the Government and Mayor of London as we all look at what must be done to ensure that buildings in London are safe. We will continue to collaborate with them, advocating for improved standards in the built environment to ensure greater safety.

“We recognise the importance of the Inquiry’s findings and recommendations. We will set out an action plan, detailing our response to each recommendation, in due course. This will be developed following consultation and in collaboration with the Grenfell community and our Community Forum.”

'We are deeply sorry' says organisation that managed Grenfell Tower

11:11 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

The Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation (KCTMO), which managed Grenfell Tower at the time of the fire, said: “We are acutely conscious of the terrible impact that this tragedy has had on the bereaved, the survivors, their relatives, and the broader Grenfell Tower community.

“We accept that the TMO contributed to this and we are deeply sorry.

“We continue to offer our deepest condolences and sympathies to all those affected.

“We sincerely hope that the findings of this comprehensive report will lead to safer homes for all those in social housing.”

PM: Government will take on report findings 'to ensure such a tragedy cannot occur again'

11:10 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said the Grenfell Tower Inquiry report identified “substantial and widespread failings” and the Government will carefully consider the report and its recommendations “to ensure that such a tragedy cannot occur again”.

All 72 deaths were avoidable, says inquiry chair

11:09 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

Inquiry chairman Sir Martin Moore-Bick is giving his highly anticipated speech at Dorland House in west London.All 72 deaths in the Grenfell Tower fire were avoidable and the people who lived there were “badly failed” by authorities and the construction industry through incompetence, dishonesty and greed, he said.

Report 'significant' but justice 'has not been delivered' say survivors and bereaved

11:08 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

The final Grenfell Inquiry report is a “significant chapter” but “justice has not been delivered”, Grenfell United has said.

The group - representing some of the bereaved and survivors of the 2017 blaze - insisted police and prosecutors must now “ensure that those who are truly responsible are held to account and brought to justice”.

Met police vows 'thorough' criminal investigation will comb through report 'line by line'

11:04 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

The Met has vowed to examine Sir Martin’s report "line by line" - a process that will take "at least 12-18 months".

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Stuart Cundy described the publication of the public inquiry report this morning as "a significant milestone for those deeply affected by the tragedy".

“The report is direct, comprehensive and reaches clear conclusions," he said.

He added: “Our police investigation is independent of the public inquiry. It operates under a different legal framework and so we cannot simply use the report’s findings as evidence to bring charges.

“To secure justice for those who died and all those affected by the fire we must examine the report – line by line – alongside the evidence from the criminal investigation. As I said previously, this will take us at least 12-18 months.

“This will lead to the strongest possible evidence being presented to the Crown Prosecution Service so they can make charging decisions.

"I can’t pretend to imagine the impact of such a long police investigation on the bereaved and survivors, but we have one chance to get our investigation right.

“We will be thorough and diligent in our investigation while moving as swiftly as possible. We owe that to those who died and all those affected by the tragedy.”

Damning report finds construction firms, architects and politicians to blame for Grenfell Fire

11:02

The utterly damning report has now been made public.

Grenfell Tower was turned into a death trap by dishonest construction firms and architects and negligent politicians who ignored fire safety for years, the public inquiry has found, paving the way for criminal prosecutions over the disaster.

A public inquiry that stretched across seven years has exposed how a refurbishment of Grenfell prior to the fire left the block coated in cheap and highly flammable materials while warnings of an impending disaster from those who lived in the Tower were ignored.

Inquiry chair Sir Martin Moore-Bick has now concluded that architects, companies involving in the refurbishment, makers of the flammable cladding, and the local council in Kensington and Chelsea are to blame for fatal fire.

The Metropolitan Police has now promised to pick over Sir Martin’s report, line by line, as a team of nearly 200 officers pursue criminal prosecutions against those responsible.

“The fire at Grenfell Tower was the culmination of decades of failure by central government and other bodies in positions of responsibility in the construction industry to look carefully into the danger of incorporating combustible materials into the external walls of high-rise residential buildings and to act on the information available to them”, said Sir Martin.

Final report to be published shortly

10:54

It’s just over 10 minutes now until the Grenfell Tower Inquiry report is due to be released, and we’re expected to hear from inquiry chair Sir Martin Moore-Bick.

Dorland House in west London, where Sir Martin is to give his speech, is filling up.

The exhaustive public inquiry that has taken more than seven years is set to at last report on the lapses and mistakes that turned a small fire in an apartment kitchen into a disaster that killed 72 people - the deadliest blaze on British soil since World War II.

'There's no justice without people behind bars' says bereaved aunt

10:40

The final report may give survivors some of the answers they have long sought — though not prosecutions for those responsible. Criminal charges are on hold until after the inquiry concludes.

Sandra Ruiz, whose 12-year-old niece, Jessica Urbano Ramirez, died in the fire, said that "for me, there's no justice without people going behind bars."

"Our lives were shattered on that night. People need to be held accountable," she said. "People who have made decisions putting profit above people's safety need to be behind bars."

Survivors and bereaved families worry the report may spread blame too widely to see anyone punished.

Police are investigating dozens of individuals and companies and considering charges, including corporate and individual manslaughter. But they say any prosecutions must wait for the inquiry's end and are unlikely to come before late 2026.

"We were denied justice for seven years and now told there will be several more years," the Grenfell Next of Kin group said in a statement. "Our realistic concern is that the 'web of blame' presented through the Inquiry will be a barrier to our justice."

Report due to be issued at 11am

10:28 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

A reminder that we now have around half-an-hour until the report is due to be released.

The inquiry chair, Sir Martin Moore-Bick, is expected to give a video statement at 11am, which you will be able to watch here.

The Commissioner of London Fire Brigade is also expected to release a video statement at 11am. That will also be available here.

Housing activist blasts 'infuriating' lack of change

10:25

A housing activist has criticised an alleged lack of progress in the seven years since the Grenfell tragedy.

Kwajo Tweneboa told BBC Radio 4's Today programme it is “shameful” there have been several similar fires in that time that have borne similarities, including a fire that tore through a tower block in Dagenham last week, which is understood to have had issues including “unsafe” cladding.

“It’s a disgrace that seven years on, 72 people dying in Grenfell wasn’t enough of a catalyst to turbocharge real change nationally," Mr Tweneboa told Today.

'London stands with you' - Sadiq Khan issues message of support to Grenfell community

10:11

Sadiq Khan has issued a message of support to Grenfell survivors and victims’ loved ones.

“Thinking of the Grenfell community ahead of another long and emotionally exhausting day in the fight for justice,” the Mayor of London wrote on X.“London stands with you, today and every day.”

'Spider's web of blame' spun by organisations trying to avoid finger of blame

10:09

The Grenfell Tower Inquiry heard that a “spider’s web of blame” was spun as organisations sought to point to others as being at fault over the 2017 fire.

Lead counsel Richard Millett KC described how a “merry−go−round of buck−passing” had prevailed throughout the hearings.

Here is a look at some of the main core participants in the inquiry:

• Kingspan - The company has said its K15 insulation product made up five per cent of the insulation in the tower block and was used without its knowledge.

• Celotex - Celotex was the manufacturer of the majority of the insulation boards used in the refurbishment.

• Arconic - Arconic supplied the Reynobond 55 cladding panels with a polyethylene (PE) core that were used in the refurbishment of Grenfell Tower and were later found to have fuelled the blaze.

• Rydon - Rydon was appointed in 2014 as the design and build contractor for the refurbishment of Grenfell Tower.

• Exova - Exova provided fire safety advice to Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation (KCTMO) for the proposed tower refurbishment.

• Whirlpool Corporation - Whirlpool Corporation was the manufacturer of the fridge-freezer where, as confirmed in the first report, the fire started.

• RBKC - The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) council owned the tower block.

• KCTMO - Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation was appointed by RBKC to run its council housing stock.

• London Fire Brigade - The first report concluded that the LFB’s performance “fell below the standards set by its own policies or national guidance”, with “justified concern” that the organisation had failed to learn from previous disasters such as the Lakanal House fire in 2009 in which six people were killed.

• Government - The Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities – which was this year renamed the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government – told the phase two inquiry it “apologises unreservedly” for its failure to recognise weaknesses in the regulatory system and for a failure to ensure effective oversight of the regulatory and compliance regime.

Grenfell children speak of ‘guilt’ at surviving disaster

09:53 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

Children who survived the Grenfell Fire tragedy have spoken of their pain and feelings of guilt ahead of the publication of the final report.

Eighteen children were among 72 people who perished in the fatal blaze at the North Kensington tower block.

Luana Gomes - who was 12 at the time - managed to escape the 21st floor with her pregnant mother and sister, but they spent weeks in a coma.

Her baby brother Logan was stillborn, making him the youngest victim of the tragedy.

Luana lost neighbour and friend Mehdi El-Wahabi, eight, who died along with his sister, brother and parents.

Now 19, she told Sky News this week: “I feel a bit guilty.

“When you think about your friends and family members and neighbours - I feel guilty that I’m here living and doing all this stuff, and they didn't get the chance to live and do the stuff they wanted to at such a young age.”

Abem Abraham, then four, escaped after being taken down the smoke-filled stairs by his parents, but five-year-old best friend Isaac Paulos died.

Abem said he wants the child victims to be remembered for their “bright dreams”, adding: “One of them wanted to be a footballer, wanted to be an engineer, wanted to be an architect. All gone in one flame.

“It could have been me.”

Read more here.

Man who lost six family members in fire says inquiry has delayed justice

09:41

A man who lost six relatives in the Grenfell Tower fire has said the public inquiry has given those responsible for the disaster a “get out of jail” card and taken away justice for the victims.

Hisam Choucair, 46, lost his mother, sister, brother-in-law, and three nieces in the tragedy.

Then-Prime Minister Theresa May announced a public inquiry into the disaster the following day - the final report of which is finally due to be delivered today, more than seven years later.

Mr Choucair, a former Transport for London operations officer, believes the public inquiry has delayed justice for those responsible, and he now doubts there will ever be a criminal trial.

“It’s like an extra dagger”, he told the Telegraph earlier this week. “They have impacted our justice by running a public inquiry in parallel to the criminal one.”

Read the full story here.

72 people lost their lives in the fire

09:33 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

A total of 72 people died in the Grenfell disaster.

Each one somebody’s child, father, mother, brother, sister, relative, friend or neighbour.

The victims came from 23 countries and included taxi drivers and architects, a poet, an acclaimed young artist, retirees and 18 children.

They ranged in age from an unborn baby to an 84-year-old woman.

How did events first unfold?

09:27

The first call to the London Fire Brigade about the blaze came at 12.54am on June 14, 2017.

At 1.14am, the flames could be seen taking hold outside Flat 16 - the fourth-floor flat where the fire broke out - at 1.14am.The fire then spread with terrifying speed up the building.

Just 35 minutes after the first 999 call was made, at 1.29am, flames had climbed to the top floor of the 24-storey block. Images and footage of the devastating fire make headlines across the world.

How did the Grenfell Tower fire start?

09:20

The fire that tore through Grenfell Tower broke out in a two-bedroom flat - Flat 16.

Officials said the fire started “in or around” the fridge-freezer in the kitchen of the flat, which was on the fourth floor of the tower block and had sliding doors which opened onto the living room.

They could not, however, be sure whether a fault with the device was the cause of the fire, they said in earlier reports.

Flat 16 was home to three people. Photos taken in the aftermath of the inferno show it charred and strewn with wreckage.

Firefighter says Grenfell Tower had a 'cataclysmic list' of building failings

09:00 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

A firefighter involved in tackling the Grenfell Tower blaze has said there were a “cataclysmic series of failings” in the building.

Ricky Nuttall, who was forced to abandon an attempt to rescue a resident from the 15th floor, defended the “stay put” advice initially given to people in the building, saying firefighters were unaware of the state of the tower.

“The idea of a ‘stay put’ policy is, its principles are founded on a building working as it should,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme this morning.

“At the time, as a firefighter on the ground, we had no idea that the building wasn’t built as it should be, that areas were compromised, that fire doors weren’t fitted, that smoke vents wouldn’t open, that the outside of the building was effectively covered in petrol, a flammable material that’s going to burn rapidly, window sills weren’t fitted correctly.

“There were a cataclysmic list of failings with the building, and none of that information was available to us at the time.”

Describing the failed rescue attempt from the 15th floor in 2017, he said he was running out of air and together with a colleague, they decided an attempt to reach the victim would have left “three people in mortal danger rather than one”.

“The guilt of leaving a human being behind is very, very hard to come to terms with, especially when you find out that that person did, in fact die,” he said.

“But it was the right decision from a logical perspective in terms of what air we had and what chance that person actually had of getting out of building with us.”

Final Grenfell Tower inquiry report to be published seven years after disaster

08:52 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

Good morning, and welcome to the Standard’s liveblog.

You’re joining us on a momentous day in the Grenfell Tower Inquiry. Seven years after the tragedy that claimed 72 lives, the final inquiry report is due to be published.

It is expected to lay out the inquiry’s findings around the actions of corporate firms in the construction industry, the local authority, London Fire Brigade and government.

We’ll be bringing you live updates throughout the day.