Fire survivors still locked out

There is already deep mistrust in the community around Grenfell Tower following the horrific fire that has cost more than 80 lives.

So it’s hard to imagine how Grenfell tenants found themselves banned from a crucial Kensington and Chelsea council meeting last night with officials citing fears for “public safety”.

Many tenants are already deeply worried by the appointment of Sir Martin Moore-Bick as judge in the Grenfell inquiry, and Sir Ken Knight as chairman of a panel looking at safety.

“Sir Martin has a track record of facilitating the social cleansing of London, approving Westminster Council’s decision to house a single mother with five children in Milton Keynes, 50 miles away from their family and networks, a decision later overturned by the Supreme Court,” said Pilgrim Tucker, who worked with Grenfell Action Group.

“Sir Ken is a man who previously opposed fitting sprinklers in tower blocks and recommended £200million in cuts to the fire service. How can we have faith in this panel to deliver the protection we need?”

Grenfell tenants deserved better before the tower disaster, and they deserve better now.