Grenfell Tower Inquiry Blames “Decades of Failure” and “Systematic Dishonesty”

The final report of the Grenfell Tower inquiry, released seven years after the disaster, has found that the fire was the result of “decades of failure” by central government and the “systematic dishonesty” of companies whose products fuelled the blaze. On 14 June 2017, 72 people lost their lives in the Grenfell Tower fire, a tragedy that has left an indelible mark on the nation’s consciousness.

Sir Martin Moore-Bick, the chair of the inquiry, presented a damning 1,700-page report that apportioned blame widely. He concluded that the fire was avoidable and that the safety of the residents was neglected by those responsible for the tower block and the surrounding community.

A Betrayal of Trust

Moore-Bick reserved some of his most scathing criticism for central government, which he said had failed to tighten ambiguous fire regulations while engaged in a “bonfire of red tape” under former Prime Minister David Cameron. The report found that the government was “well aware” of the risks posed by highly flammable cladding but “failed to act”. This failure continued even after a 2013 coroner’s recommendation to tighten fire safety regulations following a cladding fire at another London council block, Lakanal House, which killed six people.

Corporate and Institutional Negligence

The inquiry apportioned significant blame to several private companies, finding that three firms—Arconic, Kingspan, and Celotex—engaged in “deliberate and sustained strategies to mislead the market”. Arconic, the US aluminium giant, supplied the plastic-filled cladding panels that were the main cause of the fire’s rapid spread. Kingspan and Celotex, manufacturers of the combustible foam insulation, were found to have made false claims about the safety of their products for use in high-rise buildings.

The inquiry also criticised the actions of Studio E, the architects, Rydon and Harley Facades, the builders, and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea’s building control department, all of whom bore responsibility for the blaze. Studio E demonstrated a “cavalier attitude” to fire safety regulations, and Rydon displayed a “casual attitude to fire safety”.

Failure to Act on Residents’ Concerns

The tenant management organisation (TMO), appointed by the local authority, the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC), was also heavily criticised. The report found that the TMO consistently ignored residents’ views and established a “pattern of concealment” regarding fire safety matters, treating them as an “inconvenience”. RBKC’s response to the disaster was also inadequate, demonstrating a “marked lack of respect for human decency and dignity”.

Chronic Lack of Leadership

The London Fire Brigade (LFB) did not escape censure, with the inquiry identifying “deficiencies” in the organisation and management of the control room, training, and information gathering. These problems were attributed to a “chronic lack of effective leadership” and an “attitude of complacency”.

A Long-Awaited Day of Truth and Justice

Prime Minister Keir Starmer apologised on behalf of the British state, saying, “It should never have happened”. He acknowledged the “substantial and widespread failings” identified by the inquiry and pledged that the government would carefully consider the report’s recommendations to ensure such a tragedy never occurs again.

Natasha Elcock of Grenfell United, a group representing some of the fire victims, said the report showed their loved ones were failed by “incompetence, corruption, negligence, and greed”. She urged the police and prosecutors to “deliver justice and bring charges against those who are culpable”.

The Metropolitan Police and Crown Prosecution Service are expected to take 12 to 18 months to review the findings before possible charges are brought. The Grenfell Tower inquiry has brought to light shocking failures at multiple levels of government and private industry, raising profound questions about the UK’s approach to public safety and the treatment of its most vulnerable citizens