‘We have to learn the lessons from Grenfell’

MARKING 100 days since one of west London’s darkest days, The Mayor of London has spoken out about his concerns for the capital’s high rises following the Grenfell Tower tragedy.

Sadiq Khan said he was “worried” about the safety of tower blocks across London and that more needs to be done from central government to make sure there’s a sustainable future for social housing.

Speaking to the Gazette, he said: “There are other people in tower blocks across London worried about their safety and other families currently facing a risk.

“We’ve got to learn the lessons. I’m quite clear in my mind there needs to be a public inquiry and I’m glad that there is, but I’m worried about the scope of the inquiry.

“I’m worried that they’re not looking into the issue of social housing.

“I’ve written to the Prime Minister saying there should be a commissioner for social housing, someone who can raise the standards and make sure the concerns and views of residents are taken on board.

“I’m worried about if we can keep London as safe as we possibly can, not just from crime but from a future fire.

“I’m doing what I can as the mayor, but I can only do so much because we rely on funding from central government so I’d plead with your readers to help me. Help the fire commissioner and the met commissioner do their jobs better by lob- bying the government to give us the resources we need to keep London safe.”

He has also recounted the days following Grenfell and how it has impacted him as a person, being raised on a council estate.

“As the mayor, you normally get rung up in the middle of the night,” he said.

“I was rung up by my office and when they first explained when they thought what was happening we weren’t sure of the facts.

“I spoke to the fire commissioner Dany Cotton through the course of the night.

“I remember the phrase she used. As someone who has been a firefighter for more than 30 years, she’d never seen anything like it before in her long service.

“The next day I went to City Hall and we made a start with dealing with what we were going to do in relation to helping the families affected by the fire. When I got to the fire, it was very much in its rescue stage.

“There are various stages. First, it moves onto rescue then to recovery but the fire was still going.”

“I’m somebody who was raised on a council estate. I’ve got many friends and family raised on tower blocks so when these sorts of things happen you do take it personally.

“But also, clearly, as an elected representative there’s an added dimension. It was clear from the outset that many residents weren’t happy at all with the response from the council.”

“It’s clear to me that, 100 days on, there are many, many families being let down by the local council which is why it’s important to recognise that this is a national disaster that demands a national response.

“I’m afraid 10 weeks on there are many, many families not receiving the service they y deserve.

“What’s clear to me is that our emergency services work k incredibly hard, and what doesn’t help their job is the massive cuts made by central government.”