Transcripts For BBCNEWS BBC News Now 20240905

Sor. here to serve. And i am deeply sor. i z here to serve. And i am deeply sor. z z sorry. The 1700 Page Report comes seven sorry. The 1700 Page Report comes seven years sorry. The 1700 Page Report comes seven years after sorry. The 1700 Page Report| comes seven years after the fire took the lives of 72 people. Families have said that they were failed by dishonesty. We paid the price of Systematic Dishonesty, institutional indifference and neglect. It was the worst disaster of its kind in modern british history. Disaster the final part of the official inquiry into the blaze has been published. It concludes that the Fire Injune 2017 was the result of a chain of failures by successive governments, by the Systematic Dishonesty of Cladding And Insulation companies and by a lack of strategy by the Fire Service. 72 people lost their lives. The inquiry concludes that the deaths were all avoidable. Speaking in parliament, prime Minister Keir Starmer to ensure similarfire tragedies cannot occur again. Representatives of the victims and the bereaved said Todays Report showed theyd been failed due to greed, corruption and negligence. Provide significant answers, there is also deep from many of those who feel they have already waited too long for justice. Potential criminal procedures have been delayed until after the reports publication. This afternoon we will be looking at what the Reports Conclusions are and the changes that will likely follow. But first, our correspondence has this report on the Closing Stage of this landmark inquiry. It is seven years, two months and 20 days since the fire at Grenfell Tower. On the streets faded with time, memorials to the 72 people who lost their lives, and questions which today, finally, are being answered. The public Inquiriess Report is 1700 pages long. It concludes. The fire was the result of decades of failure by governments, and the construction industry, stretching back to the 1990s. The simple truth is that the deaths that occurred were all avoidable, and those who lived in the tower were badly failed, over a number of years, and in a number of different ways, by those who were responsible for ensuring the safety of the building and its occupants. Grenfell tower was refurbished in 2016. It was covered in insulation and cladding, the grey panels seen here. The cladding was by far the largest contributor to the fire. The inquiry says its makers knew it was, stubble, and were engaged in what it calls Systematic Dishonesty. The inquiry found fault with the companies who provided the solution used. They said that both made misleading claims about the product. The architects contractors and subcontractors all share responsibility, it says, in what the Inquiry Calls and an edifying Merry Ground of passing. The inquiry says there were many opportunities to take action. When the Coalition Government came in, in 2010, ministers were told to cut Red Tape to free up business. The inquiry says this dominated thinking to such an extent that even matters affecting safety of life were ignored, delayed or disregarded. The Fire Service is also criticised as complacent for not planning and training for High Rise fires and for not changing its Tape Put Policy sooner. For the families and survivors of Grenfell Tower, the inquiry paints a complex picture of collective failure every level. Human life was never a priority and we lost friends, neighbours and Loved Ones in the most horrific way, through greed, corruption, incompetence and negligence. The recommendations published today are basic safety principles that should already exist. 0n Railings at the foot of the tower, the names of the 72 people who were killed. Still, no one has been held responsible for their deaths. 72 innocent people killed by incompetence, dishonesty and greed. And still, the Wait Forjustice goes on. Graham satchell, Bbc News. Joining me now is our correspondent, ellie price. The tower and at the top you can see that green heart that has come to symbolise the Grenfell Tragedy with the words, forget forever in for a hearts and my colleague is there. ~ , hearts and my colleague is there. ~ ,. Hearts and my colleague is there. ~ ,. , there. Thank you very much and man of there. Thank you very much and many of the there. Thank you very much and many of the survivors, there. Thank you very much and many of the survivors, the many of the survivors, the bereaved relatives, wearing a green Heart Badge on their Tops Today when i saw them earlier outside the inquiry. The building where the inquiry delivered its second and final report into the tragedy and i think, while there are many key lines to take away from what the chair said earlier, but. His line saying that all 72 deaths were entirely avoidable is the one that is sticking in my mind right now. I am sure that in many peoples lines. So, a huge day for the survivors, for the bereaved, for the wider grenfell community, although It Isjust a stage on their quest for justice they are now saying it is over to the metropolitan police and the Crown Prosecution Service to deliver thatjustice. With me now is someone who has been immersed in the story of grenfell for many years now, that is correspondence, thank you for joining me. You have followed this inquiry incredibly closely, learning about the story of grenfell, the context in which this fire happened. Today, the report. How does that all tied together . The in. Ui that all tied together . The inquiry has that all tied together . The inquiry has been that all tied together . The inquiry has been Hearing Evidence for six years, some of that evidence for six years, some of that evidence has been deeply emotional, very difficult to listen emotional, very difficult to listen to. On the part of it have listen to. On the part of it have been difficultjust listen to. On the part of it have been difficult just to listen to. On the part of it have been difficultjust to it as theyve been impenetrably technical. Weve been hearing from technical. Weve been hearing from Expert Witnesses back to some from Expert Witnesses back to some of from Expert Witnesses back to some of the bereaved havoc she said there some of the bereaved havoc she said there havent been able to follow said there havent been able to follow the inquiry because they havent follow the inquiry because they havent found it inaccessible. It would havent found it inaccessible. It would be juicy today and this it would be juicy today and this time tiller grant, 700 page this time tiller grant, 700 Page Report is asked quite accurately reporting what we heard accurately reporting what we heard in accurately reporting what we heard in the six years because what heard in the six years because what we heard in the six years because what we heard, we had of these layers what we heard, we had of these layers and what we heard, we had of these layers and layers of organisations, these over a decade organisations, these over a decade to have the opportunity to step decade to have the opportunity to step in, to say something, to step in, to say something, to change to step in, to say something, to change history. | to step in, to say something, to change history. To step in, to say something, to change history. I think what is crucial be to change history. I think what is crucial be heard to change history. I think what is crucial be heard in to change history. I think what is crucial be heard in some is crucial be heard in some cases, it was incompetence that contributed to this dreadful outcome. In other cases, he said it was dishonesty. I think whats interesting said it was dishonesty. I think whats interesting is said it was dishonesty. I think whats interesting is that said it was dishonesty. I think whats interesting is that the | whats interesting is that the inquiry whats interesting is that the inquiry writes that it was surprised by some of the evidence they heard because it heard evidence they heard because it heard evidence from a lot of the contractors who were involved the contractors who were involved in refurbishing Grenfell Tower, who tested these Grenfell Tower, who tested these materials and said that it was these materials and said that it was surprised at when hope is evidence that there was a limited is evidence that there was a limited amount of knowledge is about the regulations, Underpin Notiusi about the regulations, underpin notjust this piece of about the regulations, underpin not just this piece of work but every not just this piece of work but every piece of work that they have every piece of work that they have done over the years. That is would be talked about when they is would be talked about when they talk about incompetence they talk about incompetence the sort they talk about incompetence the sort of ability to know the regulations, to another basis what regulations, to another basis what theyre doing and to check and double check. When we talk by dishonesty, with their particularly talking about is the Systematic Dishonesty of the Systematic Dishonesty of the companies which sold and tested the companies which sold and tested the Cladding Product which tested the Cladding Product which means that Cladding Panels which means that Cladding Panels and insulation. I have been panels and insulation. I have been questions about all of the materials which are outside of grenfell materials which are outside of gre nfell tower, materials which are outside of Grenfell Tower, the Cladding Panels Grenfell Tower, the Cladding Panels made by iconic the insulation which is made by two manufacturers. Just before, what are manufacturers. Just before, what are they manufacturers. Just before, what are they saying manufacturers. Just before, what are they saying at manufacturers. Just before, what are they saying at this | what are they saying at this point . What are they saying at this oint . � ,. What are they saying at this oint . � ,. ,. , point . Theres been a reaction, there is still point . Theres been a reaction, there is still saying point . Theres been a reaction, there is still saying that point . Theres been a reaction, there is still saying that the there is still saying that the material is said, they deny that material is said, they deny that they have misled anybody. Of course, the inquiry has found of course, the inquiry has found it of course, the inquiry has found It Dishonesty involved in these found It Dishonesty involved in these deliberative attempts as it attempts to mislead the industry. Other organisations say that industry. Other organisations say that they reflecting on the Report Say that they reflecting on the report they do note that they supply report they do note that they supply the materials but they did not supply the materials but they did not choose to put all of the materials together on the outside the materials together on the outside of High Rise residential buildings. I� ve residential buildings. Ive listened to residential buildings. Ive listened to the residential buildings. I� e listened to the incredible podcast that youve done called grenfell building a disaster. Did you find that there was a lack of curiosity and some piece people or checking whether the materials were fire worthy, whether they were Meeting Safety standards . I bet what i Meeting Safety standards . I bet what i took Meeting Safety standards . I bet what i took away Meeting Safety standards . I bet what i took away from Meeting Safety standards . I bet what i took away from the what i took away from the inquiry what i took away from the inquiry that what was interesting was that there were 17 companies involved the refurbishment of Grenfell Tower and None Refurbishment of Grenfell Tower and none of them really took Controi And None of them really took control of and none of them really took control of checking the Fire Safety Control of checking the fire safety. What is particularly interesting is that not only did they interesting is that not only did they not to control all they did they not to control all they didnt ask are you checking . Some organisation like the ~~ checking . Some organisation like the. Both are to criticise like the. Both are to criticise today, student you thought criticise today, student you thought they were checking with compliance, Somebody Else was giving compliance, Somebody Else was giving that fits to check and suppress the sort of a merry Go Round of passing. In Liht Merry Go Round of passing. Light of merry Go Round of passing. In light of what inquiry has found, it is not surprising to hear one of those key recommendations being around regulation because in the Run Up To grenfell, there was a period culturally of deregulation of the Construction And Building Industry And Weve already heard the Prime Minister talking about more regulations so is presumably the next path for the industry. They talk specifically about there being a new regulator, and it image taken one of them is that all fire sent to the regulator and another multiple forms. Some forms achieve the standards suggested by the Leg Cladding which was folded, did not pass those tests. There was particularly words. It ended up. It particularly words. It ended u. , particularly words. It ended u. , , particularly words. It ended U L , ,. , ,. ,. , up. It was still described on the certificate up. It was still described on the certificate and up. It was still described on the certificate and that up. It was still described on the certificate and that is the certificate and that is because the Test Result was supplied, the Test Results of the unsuccessful test were not supplied the unsuccessful test were not supplied to the regulator so this idea is to get around this prohlem this idea is to get around this problem is that we see. Thank ou ve problem is that we see. Thank you very much problem is that we see. Thank you very much. She problem is that we see. Thank you very much. She has problem is that we see. Thank you very much. She has been | problem is that we see. Thank l you very much. She has been so many years immersed in what is happening in that inquiry. Lets talk a little bit more about what the Prime Minister has been sent, speaking in the house of House Of Commons. Apologising on behalf. Seven youre still waiting, for justice that you deserve. I want to see very clearly youve been let down so badly. Before, during and in the aftermath of this tragedy. So Mr Speaker, i want to start with an apology on behalf on to each and every one of you, and indeed to all of the families affected by this tragedy. It should never have happened. The country failed to discharge its most fundamental duty to protect you and your Loved Ones, the people that we are here to serve. And i am deeply sorry. It is imperative that there is full accountability, including through the Criminaljustice Process and that this happens as swiftly as possible. I can tell the House Today that this government will write all companies found by the inquiry to be part of these horrific feelings as the first step to stopping them being awarded government contracts. We will of course support the metropolitan police and prosecutors as they complete their investigations. The safe and decent home as a basic Human Rightand and decent home as a basic Human Right and the provision of that right should never be undermined by the reckless pursuit of greed. We will support you now and always. Especially those with children. In the memory of your Loved Ones, we will deliver a generational shift in the Safety And Quality of housing for everyone in this country. In the memory of grenfell. We will change notjust in change in Policy And Regulation other that must of course take place. But a profound shift in culture and behaviour. A rebalancing of power that gives Voice And Power that gives Voice And Power to every citizen, whether they are or wherever they live, and Mr Speaker will bring the full power of government to bear on this task because that is the responsibility and the duty we owe to the memory of everyone of the 72. Everyone of the 72. Earlier i soke everyone of the 72. Earlier i spoke to everyone of the 72. Earlier i spoke to my everyone of the 72. Earlier i spoke to my correspond spoke to my correspond on escaped the fire. He told me more about what the inquiry i think for us moving forward orfor myself moving forward, its about three different things. Its about truth, justice and change. And to today we were delivered the truth. We found out now the role of the government, how Deregulation Allowed Companies like kingspan, celotex and arconic to manipulate the market to put deadly products on our building that ended up killing 72 people. And in terms of the justice, then we heard someone from Grenfell United say to the police and the Crown Prosecution Service, its now onto you to deliver that justice. We know because theyve told us all that its going to take potentially 2 to 3 years, which could take us to ten years after the tragedy. But do you accept that the Wheels Ofjustice are going to take this long . Look, ifind it very difficult to accept that we have to wait that long. Weve been told all along that the Police Couldnt proceed until they had this report. Now theyve got this report. Now they need to, you know, get criminal proceedings, action far quicker. And im calling upon the Home Office to make any resources available to the met police to help accelerate that process. Weve waited, you know, over seven years for any single perpetrator to be brought before the courts. We cant afford to be waiting for ten years. Um, you know, its a hackneyed old expression, butjustice delayed isjustice denied. The report is there. Now, the met police need to close the loopholes and start bringing along with the cps criminal prosecutions. How are you feeling today . Um, the build up to occasions like this, of course, can be hugely difficult. Theres a lot of expectation around it. I just wonder how youre coping with today. Sure. So look, at the heart of Everything Today is the fact that we we lost 72 lives in the most violent, horrific manner and that the bereaved that, you know, the survivors need to be at the very Heart Of Everything that we talk about and think about today. The report has only come about because of that horrific, um, occurrence. I mean, ifeel that its a strong report, but for it to be meaningful in any way, we need to have the recommendations fully enacted by the government without delay. And is that above anything else, alongside that element ofjustice, is that is that what is going to help the survivors and the bereaved most . So so the truth is the Report Today, justice is criminal prosecutions and the change is what can come through the recommendations being enacted. Survivor of the Grenfell Tower higher joining now is the green Party Mp sian berry, she is a former London Assembly member. Thank you very much forjoining us on Bbc News. It was interesting just picking up on what he was saying there for this report, for this inquiry, to be meaningful the recommendations have to be acted on. Specifically with regard to housing, what are you taking away from this inquiry Report Today . I away from this Inquiry Report Toda . ~. ,. , today . I think the management of Housing Today . I think the management of housing is today . I think the management of housing is absent today . I think the management of housing is absent from this l of housing is absent from this report. What the inquiry is said is that the new social housing regulations act that came on in 2023 is intended to cover many of the issues that may raised. Many of the failings. I dont quite see that they do yet, in particular i they dont give Residents Access to information, they dont change the Power Balance that there is between landlords and residents that led to the appalling way that he and his fellow residents in Grenfell Tower and the estate were treated in the Run Up To and the aftermath of the disaster. They were treated appallingly, in a patronising way, in a way that didnt respect their own knowledge that they built up about their own homes and they action that they want to be taken and it is a real shame that the Inquiry Today has not reiterated and built upon what led to those new regulations. It does exist but they are not asking for the fundamental changes, this systemic changes to be fixed. I think access to information would be a very easy thing, Ijust Information would be a very easy thing, i just ask the Prime Minister in the House Of Commons if he would look at extending Freedom Of Information to Housing Associations. I have contacted leaseholders, people who want to get information from the Housing Association in relation to so many other aspects of having a decent, safe and quality home. They simply cant get the information that they need, this would fundamentally change that power and it is something the Prime Minister could do in addition to these recommendations very quickly indeed. It recommendations very quickly indeed. ,. , indeed. It was interesting that the chairman indeed. It was interesting that the chairman Returned Indeed. It was interesting that the chairman Returned In the chairman Returned In relation to personal Emergency Evacuation plans or peeps as theyre known for short. A1 of theyre known for short. A1 of the people who died at grenfell either had a disability or some other issue which made it more difficult for them to evacuate the building. In time. Yet, that Recommendation Wasnt fully acted on. Another Labour Government has said that it is going to review that and look into that and look at Person Centred Evacuation Plans but i wonder what your thoughts are on bass and why it has so long to actually address this issue. The fact that this wasnt properly dealt with and again, as elected representative, ever since the disaster happened, ive had people come to me raising the fact that they havent had their own personal Evacuation Plan put in place and do not give people that Peace Of Mind to know that there is a plan for them, should a Disaster Strike of this kind, itsjust doesnt make a lot of sense. We do need to fundamentally make sure that residents have more rights, more collective rights to organise and make changes in their homes, but also individual rights to simply have their own safety assured. It is a Human Right that they have to Life Protection and it has not been acted upon. Im glad the Prime Minister has been taking it quite serious today amid some quite reassuring statements in that. I think one of the big frustrations affected by this is the pace at which the wilson. What would you say to people about actions that are being reviewed and taken and having it took so long when you consider that there are thousands and thousands of buildings still with unsafe cladding on them, more than half of those the Work Hasnt started to remove that cladding. Even the smaller decisions, why does it take so long . Decisions, why does it take so lona . � , decisions, why does it take so lon . , long . Thats completely right. I thinkjoining long . Thats completely right. Ithinkjoining grenfell I Thinkjoining Grenfell United, the people in the local area, On Silent Walks for many years now. The fact that this years now. The fact that this year it is seven years since it took place, that the building is still standing there, not a single person has been charged and so much is left undone, in other places. Where there are incredibly anxious about the fire risks with every day. It doesnt make any sense. It does need to be fixed, justice delayed Isjustice Need to be fixed, justice delayed is justice denied and today other mps were raising the fact that many of the companies that ought to be held accountable for this, they oughta be paid paying are getting away with it because of the delays. They are being sold on to different people now own them. Those people can say that they are not responsible any more, i think at the report talks about some quite disgraceful buckpassing that has happened since the disaster. People need to take responsibility, and need to be held accountable. I hope the government will help to short circuit some of this and make sure that people are brought to account and that these things do get fixed. How tomb if you are going to bed feeling unsure when they go to tomb if you are going to bed feeling unsure when they go to bed at night and that Isnt Bed at night and that isnt enough. Bed at night and that isnt enough. Bed at night and that isnt Enou H. ~ bed at night and that isnt Enou H. ,. , bed at night and that isnt Enou H. ~ , bed at night and that isnt Enou H. ~ ,. ,. Bed at night and that isnt Enou H. ~ ,. , enough. Thank you very much for our time Enou H. ~ bed at night and that isnt Enou H. ,. , bed at night and that isnt Enou H. ~ , bed at night and that isnt Enou H. ~ ,. ,. Bed at night and that isnt Enou H. ~ ,. , enough. Thank you very much for our time enough. Thank you very much for enough. Thank you very much for your time today. Enough. Thank you very much for your time today. We your time today. Enough. Thank you very much for your time today. We will enough. Thank you very much for your time today. We will be your time today. We will be back here in The Shadow of enough. Thank you very much for your time today. Of back here in The Shadow of grenfell throughout the grenfell throughout the afternoon for more analysis on afternoon for more analysis on Todays Report and talking to Todays Report and talking to people directly affected by it. People affected by it. Matching the studio. People directly affected by it. Matching the studio. You can get more reaction on you can get more reaction on Bbc News website and app. Bbc News Website and app. Ijust want ijust want i just want to bring you i just want to bring you ijust want to bring you some ijust want to bring you some breaking news, of a fire that breaking news, of a fire that has broken out at a High Rise has broken out at a high Rise Block of flats in south East Block of flats in south east london. This of course coming london. This of course coming on the day that we going to bed on the day that we have been talking about the Grenfell Tragedy, the London Fire brigade said they were called the flats in catford at around nine minutes to one this afternoon. They say that about 70 firefighters and rangers at the scene, theyve received and was 50 report of the scene, theyve received and was 50 repor� bring you please. Well bring you more that as we get. At the moment, a fire in a high Rise Block of flats in the coffered area Of London and a London Flow brigade said the two fires and the ninth and tenth floors are like. Well bring you more on that as we get information. We were going to look at the main use of the day and more migrants have been trying to cross the channel from france this morning. From france this morning, despite the deaths of 12 People Yesterday when their dinghy capsized. A pregnant woman and six children were among the dead up to 65 people were rescued. Our correspondent Hugh Schofield has the latest. Just up the coast from boulogne this morning, another group of migrants makes haste to get aboard. French police give chase, but once boats are loaded and in the water, policy is not to intervene. So, another Human Cargo sets off for the english coast. Yesterday, thats how things would have started, too, for the group of mainly eritrean migrants. But theirjourney ended not in an english el dorado, but in disaster and death. Their overloaded boat started to come apart. The swift arrival of french rescuers saved many lives, but 12 drowned, most of them women. Hungry for a new life, migrants keep arriving here on the french coast, bent on crossing the water to england, and they dont seem deterred by the growing number of boats that are sinking and people that are dying. So far this year, more than 21,000 people have made it across the channel in small boats. Thats more than in the same period last year, but fewer than in 2022. The number of people drowned this year is now at least 37, compared to 12 for 2023. The fault, says the mayor, is the overcrowding of boats by unscrupulous traffickers, and it cant be allowed to go on. Translation either the uk| completely closes its border, or they do something to make the crossing safer, because we cant keep exposing to such risk all these Freedom Loving Men And Women who fled war and whose one desire is to reach england. Over his shoulder out at sea, another odyssey is unfolding. Under the eyes of the french navy, another migrant boat is edging its way up the coast to england. Hugh schofield, Bbc News, boulogne in northern france. Sir Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak have clashed over the Governments Decision to scrap Winter Fuel payments for some pensioners at the first set of Prime Ministers questions after the summer recess. Our political correspondent Iain Watson sent this report. His political honeymoon over, sir Keir Starmer made his way to the commons for his second P And Q is premised. He now has to answer the questions rather than ask them. Question one. They begin the long process of choosing a replacement for richey to mark about Making Choices and the new Prime Minister has made a choice, he has chosen to take Winter Fuel allowance from low income pensioners. To give that money to certain unionised workforces and inflation busting pay rises. G and inflation busting pay rises. � , and inflation busting pay rises. ,. , rises. A first ob was to order the books, rises. A first job was to order the books, what rises. A first job was to order the books, what we rises. A first job was to order the books, what we found. Rises. A first job was to orderl the books, what we found was rises. A first job was to order i the books, what we found was a £22 billion black hole. Its the books, what we found was a £22 billion black hole. £22 billion black hole. Its no aood £22 billion black hole. Its no good them £22 billion black hole. Its no good them complaining. £22 billion black hole. Its no good them complaining. In i £22 billion black hole. Its no good them complaining. In a| good them complaining. In a show of unity, the Lib Dems also raised the temperature. What a Voice A primes the should what a Voice A primes the should have the millions of struggling pensioners as they face rising bills this winter. Of course it is a difficult decision would have to stabilise. Decision would have to stabilise. , ~ ,. , stabilise. Some Labour Mps are also uneasy stabilise. Some Labour Mps are also uneasy about stabilise. Some Labour Mps are also uneasy about the stabilise. Some Labour Mps are also uneasy about the winter i also uneasy about the Winter Fuel payments. Some say that hundreds of E Mails from concerned constituents that doesnt necessarily mean you will see much for formal will see much forformal rebellion. Will see much for formal rebellion. Calling will see much forformal rebellion. Calling for will see much for formal rebellion. Calling for the postponement of the cuts but so far only supported the support of a handful of colleagues. Mps vote on a new change next week but a government the body of a british hiker has been found in majorca. After torrential rain swept over the Area And Rescue services have been looking for the two hikers since monday. Both were reported by Spanish Media to have been swept away by flooding causing the river current during the storm. The missing person is female