Those ‘at the top’ to blame for Grenfell Tower disaster

The Grenfell Tower fire “is a direct consequence of a generation of government policies”, FBU firefighters’ union lawyer Martin Seaward said in his closing submission for Phase 2 of the public inquiry into the 2017 disaster.

He said the “real culprits” are those in power at the top — “ministers following their deregulatory agenda to the detriment of fire safety, and the directors of industry on which they depended for sponsorship and party funding”.

FBU general secretary Matt Wrack said private interests have been allowed to take priority over the needs of ordinary citizens when it comes to building and fire safety, with rules watered down.

He said: “That’s what led to lethal cladding being put on Grenfell and that’s what led to the utterly tragic loss of 72 lives.” He added: “Those who made and drove these political decisions need to be held to account as do those who took part in that deadly refurbishment.”

Seaward also pointed to cladding manufacturer dishonesty and said agencies, including the architects and design and build contractor, had failed to complete the fire risk strategy.

The inquiry is now paused while its panel prepares the final report, likely to be published during 2023.