The UK Government has apologized to the victims of the Grenfell Tower fire tragedy, and admitted to a string of failings in the years leading up to the disaster, dubbed one of the ‘major scandals of our time.’
The government’s Barrister told the Grenfell Tower Inquiry it was ‘deeply sorry for its past failures’, in regards to overseeing building safety.
Jason Beer QC said shifted some of the onus onto local inspectors, saying they were responsible for the safety of individual buildings, but reiterated that the government ‘deeply regrets past failures.’
Overseeing building safety
The Barrister for Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities said: “It apologizes to the bereaved, residents, and survivors of the fire for such failures. This can of course neither change what happened nor compensate them for the immeasurable loss and grief suffered. The department believes that it must examine its own conduct and candidly accept mistakes, errors and omissions when the inquiry identifies them.”
It apologizes to the bereaved, residents, and survivors of the fire for such failures"
The Barrister statement adds, “The public, residents and government trusted that those constructing and approving high-rise blocks and the products used in them were following the law and doing the right thing. This trust was both misplaced and abused. The department greatly regrets that it took the Grenfell Tower tragedy to lay bare this misplaced and abused trust.”
Health and safety culture
Former PM David Cameron has been called on to give evidence at the Inquiry, after a speech in 2012 in which he said the government would ‘kill off the health and safety culture for good,’ and calling it a ‘monster’ that interferes with UK businesses.
Grenfell United added ‘The government’s statement at the public inquiry today is deeply offensive. It is a disingenuous attempt to carry on their masquerade of innocence. Their financial gain led to the death of our 72.’
This testimony was heard as part of phase 2 of the ongoing Grenfell Tower Inquiry, which began in January 2020 and was expected to last 18 months, but was disrupted by the COVID pandemic. It will continue to run into the new year.