Grenfell Tower: 80% of families homeless as inquiry begins
Families ask Kensington council leader to stay away from memorial service to honour victims
Four out of five families made homeless by the Grenfell Towers fire are still searching for permanent accommodation six months later, with little hope that an inquiry beginning today will resolve the situation.
“In the immediate aftermath of the fire, which killed 71 people, the Prime Minister, Theresa May, promised that all survivors would be found a home nearby within three weeks,” reports The Guardian. But last week Grenfell United – which supports survivors of the blaze at the London tower block – said 80% of the families made homeless in June were still looking for somewhere to live.
The tension between survivors and Kensington and Chelsea Council is so great that families reportedly asked its leader, Elizabeth Campbell, and other councillors to stay away from a St Paul’s service this week for those who died in the blaze.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme this morning, Campbell said councillors expect to have bought 300 homes by Christmas for Grenfell survivors, and that the council has taken on an “army of people” who were “working 24 hours a day, seven days a week, because we actually really do care, we do want to get people rehoused”.
Meanwhile, inquiry chairman Sir Martin Moore-Bick began two days of hearings, although the procedures will largely be administrative and evidence won’t be heard until 2018. While some hope the inquiry will provide closure, others say they’ve lost confidence in the justice system.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has announced a separate probe “examining whether authorities failed in their legal obligations to residents”, reports the BBC.
“In terms of the politics of this awful tragedy, the EHRC report could be where the most immediate action takes place,” says HuffPost’s Paul Waugh.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Death Cafe: where people talk mortality over tea and cake
Why everyone's talking about The meet-ups are intended to offer a judgement-free and respectful space to discuss the end of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Mark Menzies: Tories investigate MP after 'bad people' cash claims
Speed Read Fylde MP will sit as an independent while party looks into allegations he misused campaign funds on medical expenses and blackmail pay-out
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
'Another day of chaos in DC'
Today's Newspapers A roundup of the headlines from the US front pages
By The Week Staff Published
-
Will Aukus pact survive a second Trump presidency?
Today's Big Question US, UK and Australia seek to expand 'game-changer' defence partnership ahead of Republican's possible return to White House
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
It's the economy, Sunak: has 'Rishession' halted Tory fightback?
Today's Big Question PM's pledge to deliver economic growth is 'in tatters' as stagnation and falling living standards threaten Tory election wipeout
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Why your local council may be going bust
The Explainer Across England, local councils are suffering from grave financial problems
By The Week UK Published
-
Rishi Sunak and the right-wing press: heading for divorce?
Talking Point The Telegraph launches 'assault' on PM just as many Tory MPs are contemplating losing their seats
By Keumars Afifi-Sabet, The Week UK Published
-
How would a second Trump presidency affect Britain?
Today's Big Question Re-election of Republican frontrunner could threaten UK security, warns former head of secret service
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Rwanda plan is less a deterrent and more a bluff'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By The Week UK Published
-
How the biggest election year in history might play out
The Explainer Votes in world's biggest democracies, as well as its most 'despotic' and 'stressed' countries, face threats of violence and suppression
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Good democracies include their poorest citizens. The UK excludes them'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By The Week UK Published