A seven-year public inquiry into the Grenfell Tower fire, which tragically claimed 72 lives in 2017, has concluded that the blaze was the result of “decades of failure” by the UK government and construction industry, CNN reports.
The inquiry found that cost-cutting measures, negligence, and a “deregulatory agenda” allowed the 24-storey building to be clad in flammable materials, turning a small electrical fire into a catastrophic inferno.
The fire began in the early hours of June 14, 2017, ignited by an electrical fault in a refrigerator on the fourth floor. The flames quickly spread to the flammable insulation and cladding, which had been installed during a renovation the previous year.
A 1,700-page report, spanning seven volumes, details a litany of malpractice and negligence, implicating construction firms, the Conservative-run local council, the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, and government agencies.
“The simple truth is that the deaths that occurred were all avoidable,” said Martin Moore-Bick, chair of the inquiry. “Those who lived in the tower were badly failed over a number of years and in a number of different ways, by those who were responsible for ensuring the safety of the building and its occupiers.”
The report specifically criticized the cost-cutting measures and “systematic dishonesty” of construction firms, as well as the government’s “deregulatory agenda.”
Prime Minister Keir Starmer, addressing Parliament after the report’s release, acknowledged the failure of “just about every institution responsible for ensuring” the residents’ safety. He expressed deep regret for the tragedy, stating that “the country failed to discharge its most fundamental duty.”
Grenfell United, representing survivors and bereaved families, acknowledged the report as “a significant chapter in the journey to truth, justice, and change” but emphasized that “justice has not been delivered.” The group criticized a system where “corporate interest” trumps public safety, calling for systemic change.
Despite the long wait for the final report, victims may face another year before criminal convictions result from the findings. London’s Metropolitan Police said a thorough investigation is necessary to secure justice for those who died and those affected by the fire.
