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Grenfell Tower fire: May accepts Tory-led council did not help quickly enough

Grenfell Tower
Grenfell Tower. Theresa May, who was criticised for not visiting the scene quickly enough after the fire, privately met victims of the disaster. Photograph: Tang/Zuma Wire/Rex/Shutterstock

Theresa May has privately told survivors and families of victims of the Grenfell Tower fire that the Conservative-led Kensington and Chelsea council’s response to the disaster was slow and flawed, and assured them that the tenant management organisation (TMO) would no longer be responsible for the rest of the estate.

The prime minister was invited to the meeting by residents to hear about the challenges they continue to face, amid anger that the public inquiry will only look at the practical causes of the fire and not wider issues around the quality of social housing.

May, who was criticised for not meeting residents and victims’ relatives in the immediate aftermath of the fire, spent time discussing support for bereaved families, housing, the inquiry and the distribution of charitable funds. Her promise that the TMO would lose its role in the Lancaster West housing estate was later confirmed by the council leader, Elizabeth Campbell, who said: “We wrote to the TMO yesterday and said that we didn’t think the most viable option was to work with them going forward.”

A Downing Street spokesman said the prime minister had acknowledged concerns about the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea council and the Kensington and Chelsea tenant management organisation (KCTMO), which was responsible for the tower and surrounding blocks of flats.

“She confirmed that the TMO will be removed from the management of the Lancaster West (Grenfell Tower) estate and she recognised that the council did not respond quickly enough after the fire,” the spokesman added.

“She agreed that it was important that the council listen to and respond to the issues residents face about the support and information they were receiving, including from key workers and housing officers.”

Responding to concerns about the length of time taken to identify all the deceased, the prime minister promised residents that the coroners had all the resources necessary and were working as fast as they could.

May also took on board complaints that those being offered rental accommodation were unhappy with the council’s communication and agreed that offers should be discussed with residents face to face.

On the public inquiry, she pledged it would be independent and stressed the government would fund any legal representation required.

The spokesman added: “She explained that while the judge had not proposed including wider questions related to social housing within the terms of reference, the government recognised that these should be taken forward elsewhere and had asked the minister for housing, Alok Sharma, to begin this by holding conversations with social housing tenants across the country.”

Speaking during a visit to Guildford on Wednesday, May said: “It was a very good meeting last night. It was very dignified, a very respectful meeting, and obviously people did have concerns that they were raising and I was pleased that I was able to tell them – because the tenant management organisation is one of the issues that residents have been very concerned about – I was able to tell them that the tenant management organisation will no longer have responsibility for the Lancaster West housing estate. People were pleased to hear that.”

KCTMO said it had no initial response to the prime minister’s announcement that it was to be stripped of responsibility for the estate.

Sue Caro of the local campaign Justice4Grenfell said: “Finally the prime minister has acknowledged that things are nowhere near where they should be, and it’s positive to hear the KCTMO will no longer manage the estate.

“But without any commitment on what will replace it, many displaced residents will be highly suspicious.”

After the meeting, attended by about 60 or 70 residents, May spoke to Campbell, the leader of the council, to pass on their concerns.

No 10 said no media were present at the meeting at the request of the residents.

The latest victim of the fire to be identified was Ernie Vital, 50, who lived on the 16th floor of the tower with his mother, Marjorie, who was named last month. A family statement said: “Ernie was a polite 50-year-old man and he worked in the catering industry. He was a creative individual who pursued a creative life.

“He was a proud, humble, mature and independent man. He was a loyal son and a law-abiding citizen who maintained good relationships with all those he met in society.

“He will be remembered as a kind, sensitive and caring person with a warm-hearted smile. His pursuit of happiness has been abruptly and dramatically stopped by the Grenfell Tower tragedy. His family and friends will miss him dearly.”

Inquests into four more victims were due to open later on Wednesday.