Demands for corporate manslaughter charges

Calls for accountability for the Grenfell Tower fire have grown as MP David Lammy called for those responsible to be charged with corporate manslaughter and other politicians urged for a “speedy and open” inquiry.

Labour MP for Tottenham Mr Lammy, who has a friend who is missing in the tragedy, described the fire as an “outrage”, stating: “This is the richest borough in our country treating its citizens in this way.”

He added: “We should call it what it is, it’s corporate manslaughter, that’s what it is and there should be arrests made, frankly.”

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who visited the west London tower block yesterday, said hard questions need to be answered.

He said: “It cannot be right that a fire like this takes so many lives in the 21st century in modern Britain – somewhere along the line regulations or something failed.”

He added: “So, setting up a public inquiry – good. Let’s make sure it’s speedy, it’s open and that the residents’ groups and residents concerned get the support they need to be represented at that inquiry.”

The Liberal Democrats said the government should “urgently” publish a longawaited review of building regulations on fire safety and implement its recommendations.

Sal Brinton, Liberal Democrat Party president and member of the all-party parliamentary fire safety and rescue group, said: ”Ministers have been asked repeatedly to upgrade fire safety regulations but have done nothing, including on sprinklers and strengthening compliance rules.”