Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Grenfell Tower: Theresa May booed and told to 'stand down' by residents after visiting scene of disaster

Prime Minister met by shouts of 'stand down' and 'resign'

Samuel Osborne
Thursday 22 June 2017 13:13 BST
Comments
Theresa May booed by residents after visiting scene of Grenfell disaster

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Footage has emerged of Theresa May being booed after she visited victims of the Grenfell Tower tragedy.

The Prime Minister was met by shouts of "stand down" and "resign" as she left the meeting on Wednesday night.

She appears to remain silent as she walks with security to her waiting car.

The footage surfaced after Downing Street admitted hundreds of tower blocks in England have similar cladding to that used in Grenfell Tower.

So far tests found combustible cladding has been found on at least three tower blocks across the UK, the Government said.

But English councils have estimated that 600 high-rise buildings used cladding similar to Grenfell Tower in west London, where at least 78 people died last week after the building was engulfed in flames.

Councils were told to provide the Government with details of the cladding used on high-rises by Monday and three samples were found to be combustible after tests on a "small number" of specimens.

Flammable panelling on the outside of Grenfell Tower is suspected to have aided the rapid spread of last week's blaze, trapping dozens inside.

Speaking in the Commons earlier, the Prime Minister, Theresa May, said local authorities and fire services concerned are taking "all possible steps" to ensure the buildings are safe and residents have been informed.

She said the Government had arranged to test cladding on all relevant tower blocks as a precaution.

Harriet Harman, a Labour MP, described the revelation as "chilling".

Jeremy Corbyn said "every single one" of the Grenfell deaths could have been avoided and called for "urgent answers".

The Labour leader said residents were "let down both in the immediate aftermath and so cruelly beforehand".

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in