The fourteenth of June is five years to the day since the Grenfell Tower tragedy “the greatest tragedy to befall this city since World War Two,” with officially, seventy-two dead. (1)

Several memorial events are being planned including a release show by Joe Armon-Jones & Ras Asheber for their song No Weapon, “written in the months following the Grenfell fire and is also in reference to the corporative regeneration and gentrification of inner city communities which lies at the root cause of how and why the fire happened.” (https://ra.co/events/1544247?fbclid=IwAR3A2ircoEb8Ln-ll9WutY4KJIA2-Veb3BSns-4UnLu4HrpHDLRIumqTn0E) (2)

Five years on survivors speak of the “torture” of the “lack of justice” and “trauma” of being unable to get closure. (3)  The inquiry into the tragedy, initially slated for eighteen months, is still going on. (4)  It has revealed a staggering catalogue of corporate and state failures that some have said are tantamount to “murder.” (5)  Hopes for accountability were dealt a blow when the companies were granted immunity from prosecution back in 2020. However, Suella Braverman, the attorney general claimed “The undertaking will not jeopardise the police investigation or prospects of a future criminal prosecution.” (6)  Much to the chagrin of the families the criminal investigation, which Metropolitan Police term as “large and complex” is ongoing.  The Met adds that it “must take into account any findings or reports produced by the inquiry, including its final reports for both phase 1 and phase 2.” (7)

Some commentators fear the lack of progress so far does not auger well: “despite testimony revealing the criminal wrongdoing of manufacturers and builders, and the corruption and negligence of government officials, not a single prosecution has been brought forward nor a significant piece of legislation adopted.” This lends weight to the belief that the inquiry was established “to divert popular anger into safe, controllable channels.” (8) Indeed, the government has spent the past five years ignoring its findings and recommendations until this month when it announced it is bringing forward The Social Housing Regulation Bill, that promises to ‘reset’ the relationship between landlords and tenants. (9) Critics argue that the bill is well overdue given that, for example, almost 10,000 buildings remain ‘unsafe’ with dangerous cladding, which has only just been banned, five years on from Grenfell. (10)

The same government that waged ideological warfare for a dozen years through its austerity and hostile environment agendas, both of which are factors in Grenfell and its aftermath, are still said to be dictating policy through this lens. (11) As such, the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan has expressed real concerns that the lack of empathy, responsiveness and action could result in another tragedy. (12)

(1) Harley Tamplin (14/06/18) Remembering the victims of Grenfell: Profiles of 72 people killed in the fire.  https://metro.co.uk/2018/06/14/all-72-people-killed-in-the-grenfell-tower-fire-on-its-first-anniversary-7612766/; Emma Harrison (21/05/18) Grenfell Tower: Inquiry opens with tribute to stillborn baby. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-44190742

(2) Kiro Evans (31/05/22) Grenfell Tower Fire: Memorial services planned on fifth anniversary of tragedy.  https://www.mylondon.news/news/west-london-news/grenfell-tower-fire-memorial-services-24113980

(3) Emma Brazell (10/06/22) ‘Lack of justice five years after Grenfell is torture’, says man who lost uncle. https://metro.co.uk/2022/06/10/grenfell-lack-of-justice-five-years-later-is-torture-man-who-lost-uncle-says-16799839; Charlotte Lomas (12/06/22) Grenfell fire: Almost 1,500 children treated for trauma over disaster – with bonfires and candles ‘triggering’ survivors. https://news.sky.com/story/grenfell-fire-almost-1-500-children-treated-for-trauma-over-disaster-with-bonfires-and-candles-triggering-survivors-12632431

(5) Daniel Trilling (12/06/22) It’s 5 years since Grenfell. Here’s what we’ve learned from the inquiry so far. https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/grenfell-tower-fire-five-years-inquiry-what-we-learned/; Professor William Watkin (22/06/18) “Grenfell dead were murdered. Here’s why: https://www.brunel.ac.uk/news-and-events/news/articles/Grenfell-dead-were-murdered.-Heres-why. He states: “But if the residents were victims of neglect and disregard for the value of their lives, is this neglect a form of violence against them? Is it going too far to suggest the 72 dead were murdered by cost-cutting and profiteering? I don’t think so.”; BBC News (26/06/17) John McDonnell: Grenfell victims ‘murdered by political decisions’. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-40401314

(6) Rob Merrick (26/02/20) Corporate witnesses in Grenfell Tower inquiry given immunity from prosecution. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/grenfell-tower-fire-inquiry-news-prosecution-immunity-a9361316.html

(7) Robert Booth (14/12/21) Grenfell survivors urge police to speed up criminal investigation. https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/dec/14/grenfell-survivors-urge-police-to-speed-up-criminal-investigation

(8) Charles Hixson (01/06/22) Nearly five years after the fire, the Grenfell Tower Inquiry has changed nothing. https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2022/06/01/ongy-j01.html

(9) Daniel Hewitt (08/06/22) Housing reforms promised days after Grenfell to finally be brought to Parliament. https://www.itv.com/news/2022-06-08/housing-reforms-promised-after-grenfell-brought-to-parliament-five-years-later

(10) Rachael Venables (10/06/22) Almost 10,000 buildings ‘unsafe’ with danger cladding five years on from Grenfell. https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/almost-10-000-buildings-unsafe-with-danger-cladding-five-years-on-from-grenfell/; BBC News (02/06/22) Grenfell fire: Cladding banned five years after deadly blaze. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-61654246

(11) Shami Chakrabarti (25/05/22) 10 Years of the Hostile Environment. https://tribunemag.co.uk/2022/05/hostile-environment-human-rights.

(12) Sadiq Khan (12/06/22) I fear we could face another Grenfell Tower disaster. https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/jun/12/sadiq-khan-london-mayor-i-fear-we-could-face-another-grenfell

we ask the question:

Grenfell 5 years on: Could it happen again?

1) Has the inquiry “diverted popular anger into safe, controllable channels”?

2) What do you expect to come from the police investigation?

3) Will the Social Housing Regulation Bill, really ‘reset’ the relationship between landlords and tenants?

4) Why is there still so much unsafe cladding around 5 years after Grenfell?

Our Special Guests:

Bro. Ldr. Mbandaka: Resident guest who is Spiritual Leader of the Alkebu-Lan Revivalist Movement and an Afrikan-Centred Education Consultant.  Bro. Ldr is a veteran activist of almost 40 years standing, a featured columnist in The Whirlwind newspaper and author of Mosiah Daily Affirmations and Education: An African-Centred Approach To Excellence.

Sis. Isis Amlak: has over twenty-five years as a community activist and organiser.  She lives in the Grenfell area and has been active in music and arts production.  For over twenty years she has worked for the not for profit sector and has a strong record in community development, management, training and equalities work.  Sis.Isis has worked extensively with racialized and minority communities in the UK around issues of criminal justice, health and economic justice.   Sis. Isis also hosts the Speak Your Truth Show on Saturday s between 4-6pm on Feferity London Radio (https://www.feferitylondon.co.uk/show/i-sis-eclectic-goddess-speak-truth-show/).