May calls for tower cladding inquiry

A “major national investigation” must take place into the decades-long use of potentially flammable cladding on high-rise towers across the country, Prime Minister Theresa May has said.

Mrs May’s call came as Cabinet was informed 95 samples of cladding from tower blocks in 32 English local authority areas have failed fire safety tests – amounting to 100 per cent of all samples submitted by councils.

Her official spokesman said the national investigation could be conducted as a second phase of the public inquiry already announced into the Grenfell Tower blaze, which claimed the lives of at least 79 people.

The latest tally of fire safety checks was presented to Cabinet by Communities and Local Government Secretary Sajid Javid, who has issued an urgent call for all councils to send in samples of cladding from tall buildings.

Schools and hospitals may do the same where they have concerns, with the Care Quality Commission having contacted more than 17,000 care homes, hospices and private hospitals to tell them to check procedures.

Three towers in Newham, east London, and two in Sefton, Merseyside, are the latest to be identified as at-risk.