After a public inquiry revealed “decades of failures” by the government contributing to the loss of life in the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer issued an apology to the families of the victims. The inquiry confirmed systemic failures in government regulation policies that led to the tragic blaze, claiming the lives of 72 people, including 18 children.
Starmer expressed deep regret at the House of Commons, acknowledging the severe neglect of fire safety rules at Grenfell. He announced a halt in awarding contracts to firms criticized in the inquiry’s report and highlighted the slow pace of addressing unsafe cladding in the UK.
The inquiry attributed blame to private contractors, local authorities, and the government for their respective roles in the disaster. The report exposed systematic dishonesty by construction firms and highlighted the government’s failure to regulate private companies adequately.
Despite the report’s recommendations to prevent future disasters, it cannot be directly used for prosecution. The Metropolitan Police emphasized that their criminal investigation into the fire operates under a separate legal framework, cautioning that it may take several more years to bring charges.
