Companies whose products were used in Grenfell Tower will be investigated over their “disgraceful mercenary behaviour”, the Deputy Prime Minister has vowed, as she announced “tough” new action on the construction industry.
Angela Rayner confirmed on Wednesday that the Government had formally accepted recommendations from the public inquiry into the 2017 fire, which killed 72 people in Kensington.
The Government stated that it is accepting in full 49 of the 58 recommendations made by Sir Martin Moore-Bick in his long-awaited report published last September. The inquiry concluded that the Grenfell tragedy was the “culmination of decades of failure” across both government and the construction industry.
A group representing some of the bereaved welcomed the commitments but warned it would be paying “close attention” to how they are implemented.
Addressing the House of Commons while wearing a green heart-shaped pin badge, Ms Rayner said:
“The manufacturing companies, including Arconic, Kingspan and Celotex, whose products were used to refurbish the tower, acted with systemic dishonesty. The report found that they mis-sold and marketed them under false pretences.
“Their disgraceful mercenary behaviour put profit before people and exploited the regulatory regime to evade accountability, with fatal consequences.
“And to my disgust and their shame, some have shown little remorse and have refused to even help fix the building safety crisis that they did so much to create.”
Ms Rayner went on to announce that new powers under the Procurement Act would be used to investigate the companies involved.
“The Parliamentary Secretary to the Cabinet Office, Georgia Gould, is today announcing that she will launch an investigation into Arconic, Kingspan, and Saint-Gobain (the owners of Celotex at the time), along with other organisations.
“I expect swift, decisive action, and I will ensure that progress is reported accordingly.”
Key recommendations accepted, but some require consultation
While the Government has accepted the majority of the Grenfell Inquiry’s recommendations, nine proposals are being accepted “in principle”, pending further consultation.
A key recommendation concerns the creation of a single regulator for the construction industry. The report described the current system as “too complex and fragmented”, arguing that a unified regulator is essential for improving safety standards.
However, the Government has said that while it supports the idea of a single regulator, it does not believe it would be appropriate for that body to also conduct testing and certification of construction products or issue compliance certificates.
Citing concerns over a potential conflict of interest, the Government will instead work to strengthen oversight of existing regulatory bodies. A public consultation on construction sector reform has now been launched and will run until May, with the aim of improving public safety and restoring trust.
Despite these efforts, some reforms may not be fully implemented until 2028, meaning it could take more than a decade after the disaster for all measures to be in place.
Calls for stronger accountability
The inquiry report also highlighted the deep mistrust between Grenfell Tower residents and landlords in the years leading up to the fire. The relationship was described as being “increasingly characterised by distrust, dislike, personal antagonism, and anger”.
Ms Rayner stressed the Government’s commitment to acting on all the inquiry’s findings:
“We are implementing all of the inquiry’s recommendations and today we are setting out our full response. This tough action will drive change and reform the system, ensuring that no community ever faces a tragedy like Grenfell again.
“That means greater accountability, stronger regulation, and putting residents at the heart of decision-making.
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“We must deliver the fundamental change required. We owe that to the Grenfell community, to the country, and to the memory of those who lost their lives.”
Grenfell next of kin: ‘We will pay close attention’
Grenfell Next of Kin, a group representing some of the bereaved, welcomed the Government’s response but stressed that words must be followed by action.
“We will be paying close attention to these words and intentions. We must never forget our beloved kin, and we can never forgive the negligence and corruption that led to their deaths.
“The injustice is so great, and while the new laws and reforms are welcomed, these should have been basic requirements in a developed country like ours.
“Nevertheless, we must move forward in the right direction.”
Starmer apologises ‘On behalf of the British State’
On the day the final report was published, Sir Keir Starmer issued a formal apology on behalf of the state to those affected by the Grenfell fire.
Speaking in Parliament, as bereaved families watched from the Commons gallery, the Prime Minister admitted that the Government had failed in its most basic duty:
“This country failed to discharge its most fundamental duty – to protect you and your loved ones, the people that we are here to serve.”
Grenfell tower set for demolition
Earlier this month, the Government confirmed that the remains of Grenfell Tower, which has stood as a charred reminder of the disaster for nearly eight years, will be carefully demolished over the next two years.
Meanwhile, police and prosecutors have stated that they will not complete their investigation into the fire until the end of 2025, with final decisions on potential criminal charges expected by late 2026.
