Seven years, three months and two days after the event the final report of the inquiry into the Grenfell Tower massacre was published on September 4th. It found that central and local government and related agencies and companies’ “incompetence, dishonesty and greed led to the avoidable deaths.,” officially numbered at seventy-two. (1)

The findings were hardly a revelation to the families, supporters and close observers, the finer detail contained in the 1,700 page publication notwithstanding. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who has previously accepted hospitality from a company that makes cladding similar to that used on Grenfell Tower, apologised “on behalf of the British state to each and every one of you, and indeed, to all of the families affected by this tragedy.” (2) However, many MPs didn’t here this statement because they scurried out of the chamber before he began, leaving it half-empty. For many, this was indicative of the “don’t care” attitude that the British establishment has towards Grenfell. Natasha Elcock, chair of Grenfell United, the group representing some of the bereaved and survivors, said:

“It is absolutely shameful that they left because it shows they had no regard for the most important day for survivors and bereaved families.” (3)

Among his recommendations, inquiry chairman Sir Martin Moore-Bick suggested a single regulator be appointed to oversee all aspects of the construction industry, and for all aspects of fire safety to be brought under one government department. In response, Justice4Grenfell (J4G) said:

“It seems hypocritical, and even futile, to now expect these same organisations to oversee and rectify the ‘chain of failures’ that led to the disaster. The recommendations do little to empower or give agency to the community, instead framing the fire as an outcome of administrative failings.” (4)

In addition J4G founding member Sis. Yvette Williams lamented that the recommendations would have been more powerful had they included factors like race and discrimination social inequality as demanded at the outset. (5)

With the report now out, attention turns to the criminal case. Although the Metropolitan Police say they their investigation is ongoing, they also appeared to be waiting for the report “to see if any of it affects their investigation,” having previously stated that any suspects will not face trial until at least 2027. (6) Yet in the wake of the publication the Met stated: “Our police investigation is independent of the public inquiry. It operates under a different legal framework and so we cannot simply use the report’s findings as evidence to bring charges.” (7)

In her response to the report Diane Abbott MP asserted:

“Although the report ignores it, the victims are overwhelmingly black or Asian, and the discrimination and racism they have faced is persistent.” (8)

This is why campaigners remain skeptical of the institutionally racist Met’s commitment to fully pursuing justice. For example, as recently as last year it was left to the BBC, not the Met, to publicly name for the first time an additional suspect in the 1993 murder of Stephen Lawrence, while the ‘Spy Cops’ case rumbles on. (9)

In spite of incidents of holding the Met to account, the media’s coverage of Grenfell has also been problematic. Its default position is to value the lives (and even deaths) of the rich over that of poor and especially Black people. (10) This was undoutedly the case with Grenfell from the outset, with serious consequences. As Sis. Yvette fumed:

“The press’ behaviour did hinder the pursuit of justice because if they’d have focused on those key things around safety and how that refurbishment had gone from day one, they would have had a better story and we would be in a better place now so that the fires that have happened after Grenfell, possibly could have been preventable if they had focused on those in the first place.” (11)

more generally history doesn’t auger well for the pursuit of criminal convictions if the Hillsborough campaign is any guide. Although gaining some laudable achievements, the sole conviction resulted in a £6,500 fine for a health and safety offence. (12) Thus, Grenfell United laid out the task confronting the government:

“To prevent a future Grenfell, the government needs to create something that doesn’t exist: a government with the power and ability to separate itself from the construction industry and corporate lobbying, putting people before profit.” (13)

(1) Nick Stylianou (05/09/24) Grenfell Inquiry: The companies and organisations named and shamed in report. https://news.sky.com/story/grenfell-inquiry-the-companies-and-organisations-named-and-shamed-in-report-13209632; Afrika Speaks with Alkebu-Lan on Galaxy Radio (17/06/24) Grenfell@7: Justice Delayed or Denied? https://www.mixcloud.com/AfrikaSpeaks/grenfell7-justice-delayed-or-denied-170624/
(2) Steve Walker (19/04/23) Starmer accepts donation from flammable cladding firm. https://skwawkbox.org/2023/04/19/starmer-accepts-donation-from-flammable-cladding-firm/; Kate Andrews (22/09/22) First cladding ruling since Grenfell Tower tragedy: Martlet Homes Ltd v Mulalley & Co Ltd. https://hamlins.com/first-cladding-ruling-since-grenfell-tower-tragedy-martlet-homes-ltd-v-mulalley-co-ltd/; Reuters (04/09/24) UK PM Starmer apologises to Grenfell fire victims on behalf of British state. https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/uk-pm-starmer-apologises-grenfell-fire-victims-behalf-british-state-2024-09-04/
(3) Steve Walker (04/09/24) Video: Akehurst among first to scurry out of Commons before Starmer Grenfell speech. https://skwawkbox.org/2024/09/04/video-akehurst-among-first-to-scurry-out-of-commons-before-starmer-grenfell-speech/; James Tapsfield (05/09/24) Backlash at MP exodus before Keir Starmer made Grenfell statement as victims’ families claim Commons was ‘half-empty’ because politicians ‘don’t care’. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13817017/MPs-Keir-Starmer-Grenfell-statement-victims-Commons-fire.html; Jabed Ahmed (05/09/24) ‘Absolutely shameful’: Grenfell campaigners criticise MPs for leaving before Starmer statement on tragedy. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/grenfell-tower-report-inquiry-keir-starmer-b2607177.html
(4) Elizabeth Short (04/09/24) Grenfell culprits must face justice ‘with no corporate or state veil to hide behind’, campaigners demand. https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/grenfell-culprits-must-face-justice-with-no-corporate-or-state-veil-to-hide-behind-campaigners-demand?fbclid=IwY2xjawFQ5ItleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHQOM_EbrblkAwPAhPDgQlskf2-0dSxLSZr_GNzIdNoCfLwn-kK3urUbHCw_aem_EdTtq9l9MiT2qyuvNose1g
(5) Darren Lewis (11/09/24) Lack of justice for the 72 victims of Grenfell fire is a warning that none of us are safe. https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/lack-justice-72-victims-grenfell-33639619
(6) Vicky Spratt, Alannah Francis (22/0524) Grenfell fire victims’ anger at 10-year wait for criminal trials. https://inews.co.uk/news/grenfell-fire-victims-anger-wait-criminal-charges-3068895?srsltid=AfmBOooC6Xzvh15QZpCxwO65otGKGCvlSTJe1LKFstqr7t32gR1i0_iB
(7) Metropolitan Police (04/09/24) Met responds to publication of Grenfell Tower public inquiry report. https://news.met.police.uk/news/met-responds-to-publication-of-grenfell-tower-public-inquiry-report-487608
(8) Diane Abbott MP (07/09/24) The Grenfell disaster was made in Downing Street — it cannot happen again. https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/grenfell-disaster-was-made-downing-street-it-cannot-happen-again
(9) John Fox (21/03/21) Casey review: key steps the Met police must take to address its institutional racism and sexism. https://theconversation.com/casey-review-key-steps-the-met-police-must-take-to-address-its-institutional-racism-and-sexism-202255; Daniel De Simone (26/06/23) Stephen Lawrence: BBC names new suspect in UK’s most notorious racist murder. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-65989993; Rob Evans (31/07/24) Family criticises black officer who spied on Stephen Lawrence campaign. https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/article/2024/jul/31/stephen-lawrence-campaign-police-officer-spy
(10) Anam Hussain (28/06/23) Analysis: Comparing coverage of the Titanic submersible and migrant boat disasters. https://institute.aljazeera.net/en/ajr/article/2246
(11) Alice Watkins (10/11/24) Grenfell: The Press And The Police – Yvette Williams MBE. https://hackinginquiry.org/grenfell-the-press-the-police/
(12) Judith Moritz (29/05/21) After a 32-year battle for justice, what is Hillsborough’s legacy? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-65989993
(13) Short. Op. cit.

we ask the question:

Grenfell Report: Now What?

1) Will anyone ever be locked up for their role in the Grenfell Massacre?
2) If the police won’t use the inquiry’s findings as evidence why are they taking so long?
3) Did press behaviour really “hinder the pursuit of justice?”
4) Why was race not included in the reports terms of reference?
5) Does the government have the will to prevent a future 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 over 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. Yvette Williams: is a founding member of Justice4Grenfell (J4G) a community-led organisation, focused on obtaining justice for the bereaved families, survivors, evacuated residents and the wider local community, collaborating with representative organisations. She has lived in North Kensington for over 30 years and previously worked with the Mangrove Community Association and has helped lead or found a range of community organisations. Sis. Yvette has worked with a number of campaigns including those for Stephen Lawrence and Frank Critchlow andhas a professional background working in Education and Criminal Justice. Both Sis. Yvette and her daughter witnessed the fire at Grenfell Tower; after being alerted by a family friend who was evacuated from one of the walkways (https://justice4grenfell.org/).

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