The Grenfell Tower fire was the worst tragedy in recent memory and claimed up to 80 lives at the last reckoning, although the true figure may never be known.
Public Inquiry to Open
Retired High Court Judge Sir Martin Moore-Bick, appointed by PM Theresa May, will later give his opening statement. The statement is likely to last around 45 minutes and will be held at The Grand Connaught Rooms in central London. Survivors and their families will be watching events unfold on live-screens in Notting Hill Methodist Church. After the statement, Sir Martin will not be taking questions.
This decision is notable due to the criticism the ex-judge faced for excluding a wider examination of social housing policy. The chairman has been criticised openly in public consultation meetings for knowing little about public housing or the area in question.
After his initial statement, Sir Martin is expected to deliver an interim report to the PM by Easter 2018, which will focus on the cause and spread of the fire, high-rise regulations and the actions of the local authority.
Grenfell three months on
Feelings still run high amongst survivors and their families for the perceived lack of action from the government. After 3 months only three families have moved from temporary hotel accommodation into permanent housing.
150 families are still living in hotels. The chief of Kensington and Chelsea Council Nick Paget-Brown stepped down after the blaze, stating in an interview with the BBC that he " had to take his share of the responsibility." It has been discovered, however, that, Paget-Brown is still on the same salary three months after falling on his sword.
Questions around social housing
Only 2% of the country's social housing tower blocks have a full sprinkler system and only 68% of housing association tower blocks have just one staircase suitable for evacuation.The important question that many want to be answered is what the government plan to do about these issues of social housing that the tragedy highlighted.
John Healey MP, Shadow Housing Minister, in a letter to Sajid Javid, Communities Secretary, asked why after thirteen weeks, ministers still cannot tell tenants and public how many of the country's 4000 tower blocks are unsafe. He asked why financial support for survivors is still hopelessly inadequate. This last question is particularly pertinent in view of the fact the PM Theresa May has just agreed to send a further £25 million in foreign aid to help victims of Hurricane Irma. This is after the £32 million already pledged was criticised as being insufficient.
Whatever happens after this initial inquiry, the fact will remain that the tragedy at Grenfell has uncovered a huge number of questions over issues like social housing that are still unanswered.
