Grenfell Tower inquiry boss told: You're not one of us

The judge leading the public inquiry into the Grenfell Tower disaster has been urged to resign after a heated meeting with residents who said "you're not one of us".

In his first major meeting with residents, Sir Martin Moore-Bick was told that his background and the lack of diversity in his team meant that many residents do not have faith in the inquiry.

Many of those who spoke asked Sir Martin to widen the scope of the inquiry to address "years of neglect" and "cultural gentrification" of the area.

Rosemary Mathurin also made suggestions for the direction of the inquiry adding that its chairman "needs to be of an ethnic background, 100%".

She said: "There's no way that it can be any other way because only that type of person can be empathetic and actually read into the intellectual conversations of the heart and read the situation that's going on and what people are talking about."

Another resident, who preferred not to be named, accused Sir Martin of failing to give residents enough notice about the consultation meeting.

He also expressed anger at the location of the meeting which was around two miles from the Grenfell Tower site.

"We've found out last minute about this vital meeting," he said.

"This is really pathetic as a first move in terms of setting up this inquiry.

"You are under a phenomenal degree of scrutiny from this community.

"If you're having a consultation with a group, we all need to be here otherwise you're going to hear about it."

Only around 40 people attended the meeting which was set up for more than double that.

Sir Martin admitted that finding an adequate location nearer the scene of the fire was difficult and promised residents that more notice would be given for the remaining consultation meetings.

The retired judge and his team were seen taking notes and listening to all speakers including one former Grenfell Tower resident who said her son's father died in the fire because firefighters were unable to identify floor numbers.

Speaking after the meeting, Sir Martin said he was "humbled" and thanked residents for "telling him things he didn't know before".