MP urging caution over reaction to tower tragedy

CHARLOTTE GREEN

ROSSENDALE’S MP says Parliament should not rush into law changes in the wake of the Grenfell Tower tragedy.

It is now a month since the devastating fire in North Kensington which left at least 80 people dead, and sparked nationwide investigations into tower block safety.

Jake Berry, a former parliamentary private secretary to the Minister for Housing, says councils need to use their existing ‘significant’ powers to tackle housing issues.

He told the Free Press: “I don’t think now is the right time to start speculating what happens with housing policy after Grenfell. I think it’s a bit soon to start thinking about next steps. We should absolutely be focusing on making sure this tragedy isn’t forgotten and the residents are properly looked after. There is a patchy approach by local authorities to ensuring they enforce the existing laws.

“I would call on them to use their powers not just to clamp down on poor quality accommodation, but deal very severely with rogue landlords.”

Mr Berry also defended Conservative MPs who voted to defeat a Labour House of Commons amendment last year requiring private landlords to make their homes “fit for human habitation”.

Tories have faced criticism over the vote following the Grenfell disaster, although the proposed law change would not have applied to Grenfell as it is a local authorityowned building.

Mr Berry said: “The amendment that was put forward last year is already in law. In the 2004 Housing Act there are various provisions which mean homes have to be at a higher standard than just being for human habitation. No change in the law is necessary and I would call on all local authorities whether it was public or private housing to make sure that this higher standard is adhered to and use the significant powers they have.”

Scotland Yard has warned it could take until the end of the year or longer to be sure exactly how many people died in the disaster when the London tower block caught fire on June 14. ●● MP Jake Berry and, below, the burnt out Grenfell Tower