Insurers to be probed over claims of no cover for flats
THE COUNCIL at the heart of the Grenfell Tower disaster has been hit by a fresh row after its leader admitted never previously visiting the high-rise blocks.
Elizabeth Campbell, who is to step in as leader of Kensington and Chelsea Council, claimed prior to the blaze she had not been inside flats in the borough’s towers.
The Mayor of London accused the leadership of the embattled authority of having a “big disconnect” with survivors of the tragedy, while Andy Slaughter, MP for nearby Hammersmith, called it “jaw-dropping”.
Sadiq Khan said: “I’m afraid when residents hear that the person who is supposed to be running the council now – the ‘new broom’, the ‘breath of fresh air’ has never been in a tower block, it is not going to instil confidence, is it?”
Ms Campbell was swept into the new role by the resignation of former leader Nicholas PagetBrown amid a storm of criticism over the council’s handling of the crisis.
At least 80 people are thought to have died in the blaze on June 14, while hundreds more were made homeless.
The councillor had told BBC Radio 4’s programme: “I haven’t been into the high-rise council blocks before, but I am certainly doing that now.”
Responding to the interview, Mr Slaughter wrote on Twitter: “Leader of @RBKC tells @BBCr4today she has never visited a tower block. Anyone who has ever been in local govt knows how jaw-dropping that is”.
Four weeks on from the deadly inferno, it was suggested it could take an entire generation for the trust to be rebuilt between the council and the community it serves.
Communities Secretary Sajid Javid said: “The council has got a long way to go to earn their trust - it could take a generation for them to do that, to re-earn the trust of local people.”
As mourners prepared to gather in the shadow of the tower’s blackened shell for a vigil to mark the four-week anniversary, it was confirmed 34 victims have now been formally identified.
Coroner Fiona Wilcox gave the update as she opened and adjourned inquests into a further 10 of those killed in the fire.
Survivors last night gathered to pay their respects at a tribute wall which sprung up after the fire and has since sprawled round several streets in the west London neighbourhood.
In recognition of the milestone, Metropolitan Police Commander Stuart Cundy – who is leading the investigation into the fire – said in a statement: “Each and every one of us involved from the Met is determined to do all we can to return those who died to their families as soon as we can. Today, we remember all those who have been so deeply affected.”
Meanwhile, a nationwide safety operation is in full swing to establish how many other high-rise buildings were encased in flammable cladding, which is blamed for the blaze’s spread in Grenfell Tower.
The Department for Communities and Local Government said in an update that 224 buildings across 57 local authority areas used material that failed its fire safety tests.
Mr Javid said all high-rise buildings found to have flammable cladding will be subject to a so-called whole system test, when they are scrutinised for fire safety in conjunction with the building’s insulation.
But he added none of these tests have yet been completed.
Meanwhile, an MP says the “horrific” fire “must be a game changer”. Emma Dent Coad, whose Kensington seat in west London includes Grenfell, argued the “lack of care and respect” for survivors was unacceptable. INSURANCE COMPANIES which treat tower block residents “unfairly” following the Grenfell Tower tragedy will be investigated, the Government has said.
Treasury minister Stephen Barclay said his department has contacted two firms alleged to have refused home insurance for people living in tower blocks.
He said both denied refusing access to such insurance “as a result of the fire” at Grenfell. Mr Barclay’s remarks came in response to Labour MP Luke Pollard, who has raised concerns that residents living in the Mount Wise Tower Estate blocks in his Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport constituency – found to have unsafe cladding – had been affected.
Mr Pollard last month said Nationwide and Santander were the firms alleged to have refused to renew policies because the customers lived in a tower block.
He added both companies assured him they had not changed their position since the Grenfell tragedy. Mr Pollard, in a written parliamentary question, asked Chancellor Philip Hammond to outline what talks he has had with the industry on “insurance for residents of tower blocks”.
Mr Barclay, in his reply, said Financial Conduct Authority rules require insurers to treat customers fairly.
An Association of British Insurers spokeswoman said firms are continuing to provide insurance to residents of tower blocks across the country. She said: “In the aftermath of the devastating Grenfell Tower fire, insurance firms have been on the ground proactively locating the limited number of residents who had contents insurance.
Insurers have been providing emergency funds, offering families alternative accommodation and also making counselling services available. We know a number of insurance claims have already been fully settled, some less than a week after the fire, and firms continue to provide insurance to residents of tower blocks all over the country in the normal way.”