The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has responded to the terms of reference published today as part of the public inquiry into the Grenfell Fire:
In the wake of the horrific fire at Grenfell Tower, I promised I would fight for justice on behalf of all those affected by this devastating tragedy. That is why I called for a Public Inquiry, and made clear that the Judge must listen to local residents about what they want from it.
“I urge Sir Martin Moore-Bick to do everything in his power to deliver the inquiry’s interim report as quickly as possible. Easter is a long way off and he should do his best to publish interim findings well before then. Residents urgently need answers, and more lives are potentially at risk if we do not act quickly to establish the facts. We need to ensure such a tragedy can never happen again.
“There are some key concerns not covered by these Terms of Reference. It is vital that the wider questions around social housing are answered if the community’s shattered confidence is to be restored, alongside an investigation into our ability to respond to emergencies and the fire risk from household appliances. If these are not to be addressed in the Public Inquiry, the Government must set out urgently how it will make sure these critical issues are fully addressed in a parallel process.
“As Mayor, a Londoner and someone who grew up on a council block, I share the frustrations of the local community. I will continue to do everything in my power to make sure that the causes of this disaster, and its lessons for the future, are brought to light and acted upon.
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