Grenfell fire expert faces calls to stand down

A FIRE expert appointed by the Grenfell Tower public inquiry faced calls to stand down yesterday amid claims he had overseen swingeing cuts to the fire service.

Lawyers said Steve McGuirk was ‘compromised’ by his time as a former chief fire officer, when he and others advised the Government on crucial safety issues due to be considered by the new inquiry.

The Fire Brigades Union said he was also the principal adviser to local councils on fire safety and questioned if he could be impartial and independent about recommendations given to councils, including the West London council which owns Grenfell Tower.

Martin Seaward, for the FBU, said Mr McGuirk had overseen cuts and closures during his time as chief fire officer and chief executive of Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service. The FBU has asked the inquiry to analyse the effect of cuts and closures on the emergency service response to the fire at Grenfell, in which 71 people died.

Richard Millett, QC, counsel for the inquiry, said: ‘We are satisfied that none of our experts is conflicted.’

The Grenfell inquiry is expected to analyse whether previous fire safety recommendations were implemented after a 2009 fire in South London which killed six.