Theresa May shed tears in Downing Street for Grenfell Tower victims as she announces full public inquiry into horrific fire
The Prime Minister made a 'private visit' to the Grenfell Tower in west London
THERESA May yesterday shed tears for the victims of the Grenfell Tower tragedy as she ordered a full public inquiry into the horrific fire, saying the families “deserve answers”.
But the PM was hammered by opponents after she visited the site and spoke to hero firefighters — but none of the residents.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn did talk with survivors and one told him: “Theresa May was here but she didn’t speak to any of us. She was s***.”
Downing Street angrily refuted claims the PM behaved heartlessly by not meeting victims’ families.
Aides also insisted it was “absolutely not true” that she did not care about their suffering, pointing to her immediate action to call a public inquiry.
And the reported Mrs May wept in Downing Street as she broke down after giving a speech on the tragedy.
Asked why she did not meet families during her 20-minute visit to the scene in West London, Mrs May said she wanted a “briefing from the emergency services”.
She added: “They’ve been working tirelessly in horrific conditions and I have been overwhelmed by their professionalism and their bravery. We thank all our emergency services for the incredible work that they have done.”
In a bid to show she did have sympathy for their tower’s residents, she described the stories she had heard as “absolutely heart-breaking”.
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She added: “I want to reassure the residents of Grenfell Tower, all of whom are in our thoughts and prayers at the moment.”
Revealing why she had ordered the full public inquiry, Mrs May said: “Right now people want answers. We need to know what happened.
"We need to have an explanation of this. We owe that to the families, to the people who have lost loved ones, friends and their homes in which they lived.
“People deserve answers. The inquiry will give them this.”
But former deputy Labour leader Harriet Harman said it was “not OK” for the Prime Minister to go to the area but not meet residents.
The criticism came as Mrs May’s personal ratings slumped following her botched general election campaign, while Mr Corbyn’s soared to his highest ever.
A YouGov poll found the PM’s popularity had plunged with 63 per cent of people having an unfavourable view of her, compared to just 29 per cent who see her favourably.
But a No10 source insisted the Tory leader was doing the “best thing she can” for those affected by the Grenfell Tower disaster.
They added: “The PM was shocked by what she heard from the emergency services, and immediately came back to No10 and ordered a public inquiry be set up.
“This is the best thing she can do for all the families affected.
“What everybody wants is to find out what happened and make sure it never happens again. That’s what matters. People there want answers, and that is what we are going to give them.”
Mrs May also insisted the Government “stands ready” to provide all extra help requested by the emergency services.
And Police and Fire Minister Nick Hurd promised the public inquiry will “leave absolutely no stone unturned”.
He said the investigation into the blaze will seek to produce a “factually-based understanding of what happened” on the night of the fire and the events which led to it.
Mr Hurd also urged MPs to now act as though the victims were their own family and friends, saying there was “no room for plodding bureaucracy”. But he suggested a promised review of building regulations would not be published until after the inquiry.
The Government also cancelled the Chancellor’s prestigious annual Mansion House speech to City chiefs last night out of respect to the tragedy’s dead.
It is the second year in a row that the Treasury boss’s black tie address has been called off, following Labour MP Jo Cox’s murder a year ago yesterday.
SIX WHO SHARE BLAME
THE deadly fire at Grenfell Tower was a tragedy waiting to happen — but who is to blame? Labour MP David Lammy has called for arrests to be made over the “corporate manslaughter”. As investigations begin into how the blaze spread so quickly we reveal the failings that may be held responsible for the disaster.
The council: An ex-employee has accused Kensington and Chelsea council of penny-pinching after being quoted £30million to renovate the block. The property manager said: “Surveyors told the council not to use the cheapest materials but they still accepted the lowest bid.” A “costly” external fire escape was also axed. But council leader Nick Paget-Brown hailed the work to “improve the quality of life”.
The landlords: Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation, responsible for maintenance, got £11million in taxpayer cash last year. But in November a tenant group warned “only a catastrophic event will expose the ineptitude of our landlord”. The non-profit group’s chief exec Robert Black said yesterday: “We are absolutely devastated.”
The contractors: The building’s external cladding was made up of units called Reynobond rainscreen cassettes. Harley Curtain Wall was paid £2.6million to supply the panels, a “commonly used product”. The firm, of Crowborough, East Sussex, went bust shortly afterwards and was bought out by Harley Facades, also owned by boss Ray Bailey, 58. He said: “We are not aware of any link between the fire and exterior cladding.”
The politicians: The PM’s new chief of staff failed to carry out a review of fire regulations despite warnings. A probe promised by Housing Minister Gavin Barwell was delayed last year. And in 2013, then-Communities Secretary Eric Pickles rejected a coroner’s call for sprinkler systems in refurbed high-rises after a 2009 fire in Camberwell, South London, killed six.
The gas company: Residents raised concerns about exposed gas pipes at Grenfell Tower only weeks ago. Renovations to replace new gas risers, which bring in supplies from street level, were carried out earlier this year by National Grid Gas Distribution, now rebranded as Cadent.Cadent said stairwell pipes were boxed in with material fireproof for two hours, but work was still being done to contain floor pipes.
The fridge manufacturer: London Fire Brigade has accused fridge makers of dragging their heels over safety. Since 2010 faulty fridges have resulted in the deaths of seven people in Britain. A spate of recent fires originated in the capacitor, a device that stores electrical energy. While most modern fridges are covered in metal, older models still use a highly flammable plastic backing which gives off toxic gas.