The prime minister has called for a ban on the public contracts for the construction companies involved in the Grenfell disaster following the final inquiry into the fire that took the lives of 72 people in 2017.
Prime Minister’s statement
In light of the inquiry, which gave a damning account of “systematic dishonesty” and “unprofessional conduct” at the heart of the disaster, Keir Starmer said “it is imperative that there is full accountability, including through the Criminal Justice process” in a speech to parliament.
The prime minister added: “So I can tell the House today that this government will write to all companies found by the Inquiry to have been part of these horrific failings.
“As the first step to stopping them being awarded government contracts.
“And, of course, we will support the Met Police and the prosecutors as they complete their investigations.”
Mr Starmer also stressed the importance the victims and all those affected “are able to get the justice they deserve”.
Radical action to prevent future disasters happening again was also urged by the prime minister, on top of the “important reforms [that] have been made over the last seven years”.
One of the key recommendations from the report was the establishment of a “construction regulator”, to drive “much-needed change in the culture of the construction industry”.
The report also called for the appointment of a Chief Construction Adviser to the lone Secretary of State on “all matters affecting the construction industry” – and that the definition of a higher-risk building for the purposes of the Building Safety Act be “urgently” reviewed.
Key findings of the Phase Two report
- Cladding was ‘by far the largest contributor’ to the fire
- Grenfell was the result of ‘decades of failure’ by central government and the construction industry
- System of regulating construction and refurbishment of high-rises was “seriously defective”
- Fire safety testing by Building Research Establishment (BRE) marred by “inadequate practices” and “lack of effective oversight”
- “Systematic dishonesty” by cladding and insulation manufacturers; BRE also complicit
- Arconic Architectural Products “deliberately concealed” danger of Reynobond 55 PE in cassette form
- Foam insulation manufacturer Celotex embarked on a ‘dishonest scheme to mislead customers and the market’
- Kingspan “knowingly created a false market” in insulation for use on buildings over 18 metres in height
- Studio E, Rydon and Harley ‘failed to identify own responsibilities for design’ and ‘assumed someone else was responsible for fire safety’
- Exova bears “considerable responsibility” for the ‘dangerous condition of Grenfell after its refurbishment’
- Failure by building product certification bodies on quality, testing and compliance
- Council and Tenant Management Organisation (TMO) showed ‘persistent indifference to fire safety, particularly of vulnerable people’
- “Chronic and systemic failings” in the TMO’s management of fire safety
- Govt agenda ‘ignored, delayed or disregarded’ the safety of life in key learnings
- London Fire Brigade lacked ‘strategy and training’
Due to the ‘scale and complexity’ of the investigation, individuals are unlikely to be charged or tried until at least 10 years after the incident, the Metropolitan Police and Criminal Prosecution Service (CPS) previously said – potentially meaning late 2026 at the earliest before any criminal prosecutions begin.
However, the report has recommended a comprehensive review of fire safety by the state, emergency services and the built environment following ‘decades of failure’.
Construction Wave approached the companies mentioned for comment, however none provided a response by the time this article went to deadline.
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