Sadiq Khan condemns Theresa May for ‘inhumane’ treatment of Grenfell Tower survivors

London Mayor criticises ‘institutional indifference’ towards families

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has criticised Theresa May over her government’s “inhumane” treatment of the survivors of the Grenfell Tower fire, in a letter to Downing Street.

The north Kensington families had been faced with “institutional indifference” in the year since the fire, he said, before demanding that the government improve communication with survivors, accelerate rehousing and allow relatives overseas visas to the UK to attend the inquiry into the blaze.

The letter to Number 10 comes after the first week of formal hearings at the inquiry. Lawyers representing the bereaved and survivors told the probe the stigmatised perception of social housing tenants had undermined fire safety measures in Kensington.

Inquiry chair Sir Martin Moore-Bick faced calls to expand the probe’s terms of reference to examine whether race, religion or social class played any part in the disaster.

Mr Khan’s letter, which was sent to Downing Street last week, said: “As the families who lost relatives, friends and neighbours embark on the inquiry and attempt to rebuild their lives, they need to know that their government and council have the commitment and expertise required to support them. The treatment they have faced over the past year has been, at best, inconsistent and chaotic and at worst, inhumane.

“The process of healing and securing justice will take time but more can be done now to support and care for these families, to make their lives more manageable and ensure they are in a position to fully participate in the inquiry.

“The institutional indifference these families have faced in the 12 months since the fire is simply unacceptable. Your government has failed to give the support so clearly required by the local authority as these families experienced repeated failures and broken promises from the government and Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It has become ever more apparent to me that your government is unwilling to step in and take responsibility for local response efforts.”

He added: “The scale of the tragedy and loss of life warrant closer attention and intervention from government.

“You must take the action that is needed to demonstrate that the authorities who have already failed the people are not institutionally indifferent to their continued suffering.”

Mr Khan also called on Ms May to elect a “more representative” panel to the inquiry “as soon as possible”. After a sustained campaign by survivors, the government agreed to appoint two members of the community to the inquiry panel to examine the cultural and community reasons for the fire. But they will currently only join the probe in the second phase of the inquiry, which examines why the fire happened.

“It is crucial that the survivors are involved in the appointment of these panel members to ensure that they create an inquiry they can have confidence in. I urge you to publish details on how these individuals will be selected and appointed as soon as possible,” he said.

A Downing Street spokesperson responded to the letter by saying the government had been “working with survivors to support them” in the wake of the fire in north Kensington.

“One hundred and ninety-eight of 203 households from Grenfell Tower and Grenfell Walk – 98 per cent of households – have now accepted temporary or permanent accommodation,” he said.

“To assist those in need, the government has spent over £46m to support recovery following the Grenfell Tower fire and committed an additional £34m to support Grenfell recovery. We have provided £100,000 to support local businesses, made £3m available for community spaces and allocated £10m for ongoing mental and emotional support.

“The prime minister is committed to helping the people of Grenfell Tower learn the facts about what happened, to see that lessons are learned and justice is done. Phase one of the independent public inquiry is already under way and the prime minister has confirmed that an extra two panel members will be appointed for phase two of the inquiry, to ensure it has the skills and expertise it requires.”