Grenfell Tower inquiry: Boris Johnson tells families ‘justice will be done’
- British prime minister says government will fully accept findings of report on 2017 blaze that killed 72 people, pledging a rapid official response
- Inquiry chairman questions ‘stay put’ policy, calling on ministers to develop national guidelines for total or partial evacuation of high-rise buildings
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said the government will fully accept the findings of a report on failings in the Grenfell Tower disaster, promising survivors and relatives that “the truth will out and justice will be done”.
Responding to the report by the inquiry chairman, Martin Moore-Bick, on the causes of the blaze at the west London block in June 2017 that killed 72 people, the prime minister opened a Commons debate by promising a rapid official response.
“I can confirm that where Sir Martin recommends responsibility for fire safety be taken on by central government, we will legislate accordingly,” he told MPs. “And more widely, we plan to accept in principle all of the recommendations that Sir Martin makes of central government.”
Watched by relatives, survivors and campaigners from the public gallery, Johnson said he would “not allow the lessons of this tragedy to fall through the cracks”.
He said: “The night of 14 June was a horrendous night. But in the darkness we have also seen the best of humanity: the residents who sacrificed their own lives to save their children or neighbours; the local community that rallied round in such an incredible fashion, holding the survivors in a tight embrace as the authorities failed to step up.”
