It is difficult to overstate the string of colossal failures that contributed to the deaths of 72 people, when a fire engulfed Grenfell Tower on June 14, 2017. The final report from the inquiry concluded that the fire “was the culmination of decades of failure”, with the finger of blame pointed at former government ministers, the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and the London Fire Brigade.
But undoubtedly, the greatest responsibility lies with the construction industry. Those who manufactured cladding were, the report notes, engaged in “systemic dishonesty” and were “by far the largest contributor” to the disaster. And it is time for them to be held accountable for their actions.
