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PM turns down Grenfell survivors’ request to recruit extra inquiry members
The prime minister has turned down a request from Grenfell Tower survivors to recruit extra panel members to the inquiry into the fire.
In a letter to Sir Martin Moore-Bick, chair of the Grenfell Inquiry, Theresa May said the inquiry should complete its initial report into the blaze “as quickly as reasonably possible” and therefore extra panel members should not be recruited at this stage.
She said the inquiry already has “the necessary expertise” to carry out its work.
Survivors and bereaved family members recently delivered a petition with more than 22,000 signatures to Downing Street, which called for Ms May to appoint extra inquiry panel members with decision-making powers to sit alongside Sir Martin.
Instead Ms May said Sir Martin’s proposal to set up an advisory panel of people affected by the fire “could play a very beneficial role in putting those most affected at the heart of the inquiry and enabling them to ensure that their views and experiences are heard”.
Sir Martin announced this week that he will recruit an expert witness who has experience dealing with social housing resident complaints.
Further inquiry hearings are expected to take place at the end of January but Sir Martin said he did not expect to hear from witnesses until after Easter.
