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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
National
Robert Booth Social affairs correspondent

Causes of Grenfell fire were entwined with policy decisions driven by saving money

Thousands of local people and survivors join a silent walk on the sixth anniversary of the Grenfell Tower fire, on 14 June 2023.
Thousands of local people and survivors join a silent walk on the sixth anniversary of the Grenfell Tower fire, on 14 June 2023. Photograph: Guy Smallman/Getty Images

False economy does not begin to describe the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea’s approach to the Grenfell Tower refurbishment.

It was not just how the council shaved a few hundred thousands pounds from the cladding budget by switching from zinc, that was expected to be fire-retardant, to plastic-filled combustible panels.

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