Assembly calls for change following the final Grenfell report

The London Assembly has today called for the Government to implement the systemic change required following the publication of the Phase 2 Grenfell Tower Inquiry.

It has been seven years since the devastating fire broke out at Grenfell Tower in North Kensington, where 72 people sadly lost their lives.

With the Phase 2 Report published yesterday, the Assembly is concerned that five years after the first report, some recommendations are yet to be implemented.

James Small-Edwards AM, who proposed the motion, said:

"The publication of the Phase 2 Report of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry exposes the tragic circumstances in which 72 innocent Londoners lost their lives in the Grenfell Tower fire. We recognise the ongoing pain and profound impact on survivors, families, first responders, and the wider community.

“We commend the advocacy of the Grenfell community for meaningful change to building regulations to ensure safety. This Assembly supports the Grenfell Tower Inquiry’s work in seeking justice and accountability.

“The report reveals a failure by the institutions and individuals that should have protected the Grenfell community—the government, social housing landlords, the local council, regulatory bodies, product manufacturers and the London Fire Brigade. Every one of these institutions failed in their duty to serve and protect. It is essential that every single individual and company that contributed to this tragedy are held to account.

“We call on the Government to implement all necessary changes to prevent a similar tragedy, we need to see higher standards. There are overdue recommendations and we remain committed to advocating for action from all authorities involved."

The full text of the motion is:

The London Assembly notes the publication of the Phase 2 Report of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry. The 14th of June marked 7 years since 72 innocent Londoners passed away when a devastating fire broke out at Grenfell Tower in North Kensington. The pain of this tragedy is still felt to this day, and the Assembly recognises the profound impact that Grenfell continues to have on survivors, the families and friends of those that lost their lives, the first responders and the wider community.

This Assembly notes the advocacy of this community, which, through their grief and recovery, has advocated for meaningful changes to building regulations and other mechanisms to ensure that people can feel safe in their homes. This Assembly acknowledges the importance of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry in seeking justice for the community by revealing the factors that led to the fire and placing responsibility on authorities to act to prevent a similar tragedy from happening again.

This Assembly acknowledges the proactive response of the Mayor and the London Fire Brigade to Phase 1 of the Inquiry, noting that all recommendations with direct implications for the Brigade's operations have been thoroughly implemented. The ongoing work to address and repair identified weaknesses are important in ensuring that the Grenfell community and the wider public have confidence in their preparedness for any future incidents.

This Assembly continues to call on the Government to implement the systemic change required to prevent a similar tragedy from happening again. It is concerning that five years after the publication of the first report, there are still recommendations that have not been implemented, such as around the emergency evacuation of people with disabilities. It is essential that these measures are reviewed and implemented alongside the new recommendations to the Government delivered in Phase 2 of the Inquiry.

This Assembly will remain dedicated to advocating for action by all relevant authorities, including the Mayor, the London Fire Brigade, and the Government, in response to Phase 2 of the Inquiry.

The meeting can be viewed via webcast or YouTube. 

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