Kensington MP calls for Grenfell Tower fire inquiry chairman to go

The MP whose constituency contains Grenfell Tower has called for the head of the public inquiry into the deadly blaze to step aside.

Labour's Emma Dent Coad said she does not think Sir Martin Moore-Bick should head the probe into the fire, which killed least 80 people.

The Kensington MP told the BBC's Today programme: "I have been talking to hundreds of people who have been affected.

"They need somebody they can talk to, somebody with a bit of a human face.

"I don't think he should do it. I don't think there will be any credibility.

"Some people are saying they are not going to co-operate with it so it's not going to work."

Sir Martin is just days into the job of leading the inquiry, but he has already faced criticism.

Campaign group Justice 4 Grenfell claimed the whole process "must start again", while a group called BME Lawyers 4 Grenfell wrote to Prime Minister Theresa May to say her selection of Sir Martin was "astonishing".

Labour MP David Lammy has described Sir Martin as "part of the establishment" and "a white, upper middle-class man who I suspect has never visited a tower block housing estate".

The calls for him to go came after he said the inquiry would be "pretty well limited" to examining the causes of the fire, how it spread and how to prevent similar fires in future.

In an apparent attempt to head off criticism, a source said Sir Martin was prepared to increase the scope of his investigation and consider the "broad" causes of the blaze.

They told the Press Association the retired judge was also looking to examine issues tracing back to building regulations at the time the block was erected.

"He is very happy to look at why there were warnings that weren't listened to, these were the allegations," the source said.

It is understood the inquiry will be a "broad interpretation of what caused the fire" and will not be limited to the "physics of what happened".

At the weekend, a coordinator at Justice 4 Grenfell told Sky News the survivors would boycott the inquiry if it is not widespread enough.

Yvette Williams said those affected would refuse to take part if the "systemic issues" that led to the blaze are not examined.

On Monday, Elizabeth Campbell was nominated to succeed Nicholas Paget-Brown as leader of Kensington and Chelsea Council, which has come under fierce criticism over its response to the blaze.

Mrs Campbell said she would ask Communities Secretary Sajid Javid for help and pledged to "heal the wounds" in the community.

She said: "This is our community and we have failed it when people needed us the most.

"So, no buts, no ifs, no excuses - I am truly sorry."

She added: "As new leader, I will appoint a new cabinet (on Tuesday) and things are going to change."

Calling for the council to be dissolved, Justice 4 Grenfell co-ordinator Sue Caro said Mrs Campbell's nomination is "like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic".

She said: "They have shown they are not fit to run a council or deliver the services that are needed and I don't really think it matters who is the leader."