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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2017/jun/23/merkel-says-mays-offer-on-eu-citizens-is-a-good-start-live-updates
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| Police considering manslaughter charges over Grenfell Tower fire – Politics live | Police considering manslaughter charges over Grenfell Tower fire – Politics live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 12.19pm BST | |
| 12:19 | |
| Jamie Grierson | |
| Islington Council has confirmed that cladding is to be removed from Braithwaite House, a high-rise block within the borough after tests revealed the presence of aluminium composite material. | |
| Councillor Diarmaid Ward, Islington Council’s executive member for housing and development, said: | |
| “As a landlord, safety is our number one priority and we will do whatever it takes to ensure people are safe in our estates. | |
| “Last night, we received results of tests on cladding on the side of Braithwaite House, and they have confirmed the presence of Aluminium Composite Material (ACM). | |
| “We’re arranging to have the cladding, which is only on the sides of the building, removed as soon as we possibly can by a specialist contractor. | |
| “We’re also stepping up safety measures in the block immediately, with fire safety patrols taking place day and night from today until the panels are removed. | |
| “Our housing staff were at Braithwaite House last night to carry out fire checks and clear any obstructions in communal areas. We’re also taking advice from London Fire Brigade and will follow all their recommendations. | |
| “We know this news will be distressing to residents. We have organised a drop-in session with residents today and also there will be an information point at St John’s Street Area Housing Office.” | |
| 12.15pm BST | |
| 12:15 | |
| Jessica Elgot | |
| Downing Street has said private landlords will not be compelled to carry out testing for flammable cladding on tower blocks, but local authorities will be advising them to have the materials submitted for testing. | |
| The prime minister’s spokesman said the Department for Communities and Local Government had spoken to local authorities about private sector residential blocks. “The testing facility is available to them and we expect many will use it,” she said. | |
| “We are not compelling them, local authorities are identifying private buildings which have cladding but we don’t know the number or volume of those yet. | |
| “We expect private landlords which have cladding on their buildings will use the testing site and they will be responsible about that, that’s the message we are getting out to them.” | |
| Downing Street said the 600 buildings identified yesterday for testing were all local authority-owned buildings. Local authorities were also examining schools and hospitals, Downing Street said. | |
| Number 10 also said buildings regulations would be examined to see if the standards were high enough in light of the Grenfell fire. “In terms of regulations, we are going to have to reflect on issues that have been thrown up on building regulations and I’m sure there will be recommendations and issues raised throughout the inquiry that government will have to immediately look at to make sure the regulations are much clearer if that is proved to be an issue.” | |
| Updated | |
| at 12.19pm BST | |
| 12.07pm BST | |
| 12:07 | |
| George Osborne’s London Evening Standard has more on the “problem with Theresa May’s position on European citizens living in Britain.” | |
| Here’s his paper latest editorial. | |
| Once again, this morning, millions of families wake up among us not knowing whether they will be allowed to remain in the country where they have chosen to make their lives. There has to be a very strong reason of national interest even to contemplate causing such upset. There isn’t. | |
| It seems very unlikely Spain would kick out our expats on the Costa del Sol, or that France would depopulate the Dordogne. But even if they did, no one really believes that Britain would deport the three million European citizens who live and work here. Why not? Because it would be a massive act of self-harm. As Mrs May said in February: “EU citizens living in the UK make a vital contribution to our economy and society and without them we would be poorer and our public services weaker.” | |
| Threatening to make yourself poorer and your NHS weaker isn’t very credible. Nor does anyone believe that, even if she wanted to, Mrs May has the numbers to carry out her threat. She has barely persuaded her Conservative colleagues to back her plan. Last June, in the days immediately after the referendum, David Cameron wanted to reassure EU citizens they would be allowed to stay. All his Cabinet agreed with that unilateral offer, except his Home Secretary, Mrs May, who insisted on blocking it. A vote in the Commons earlier this year was only carried with a nod and a wink to Tory MPs behind the scenes that she didn’t really mean it. Since then, the Government has lost its majority and it seems likely that an opposition motion to grant EU citizens the right to remain unilaterally could be carried. | |
| Our @EveningStandard editorial on why PM's threat isn't credible: we should unilaterally let EU citizens stay in UK https://t.co/qExngLVW8N | |
| Updated | |
| at 12.09pm BST | |
| 11.59am BST | |
| 11:59 | |
| Manfred Weber, chair of the centre-right European People’s party, of which Angela Merkel is a leading light, has given a scathing assessment of May’s offer on EU citizens. | |
| If PM May cannot come up with a more concrete proposal it is quite worrying for the rest of the #Brexit negotiations. #EUCO #EUcitizens 2/2 | |
| His comments suggest Merkel was simply being diplomatic when when she described May’s offer as a “good start”. | |
| 11.56am BST | |
| 11:56 | |
| Government orders examination of Hotpoint fridge freezer | |
| Number 10 said technical experts were undertaking urgent tests on the Hotpoint fridge model that was found to have started the Grenfell fire. The model may yet be recalled if tests prove that there are flaws and any decision to recall will be taken shortly.“Following the Met’s statement, the government has ordered an immediate examination of this unit by technical experts to establish the cause of the incident,” a Downing Street spokesman said. | |
| “This testing will establish if further action if required.”Consumers who believe they may own a Hotpoint fridge freezer model number FF175BP (white) or FF175BG (grey) are being advised to contact Whirlpool Corporation, the fridge’s manufacturer, but the government said at this stage there was no specific reason for consumers to switch off their fridge freezer pending further investigation.In a statement, business secretary Greg Clark said: “The safety of consumers is paramount. The device is being subject to immediate and rigorous testing to establish the cause of the fire. I have made clear to the company that I will expect them to replace any item without delay if it is established that there is a risk in using them.” | |
| Updated | |
| at 12.10pm BST | |
| 11.51am BST | |
| 11:51 | |
| Hotpoint has issued this statement: | |
| “Words cannot express our sorrow at this terrible tragedy. We offer our most profound condolences to the victims, those who have lost loved-ones, homes, and possessions, and to their friends and families. Our thoughts and prayers are with all those involved, including the emergency services who risked their lives to extinguish the blaze and rescue those in the building. | |
| “We have just been informed that the fire may have originated in a Hotpoint fridge freezer (model number FF175BP). | |
| “We are working with the authorities to obtain access to the appliance so that we can assist with the ongoing investigations. Under these circumstances, we are unable to speculate on further details at this time. We are addressing this as a matter of utmost urgency and assisting the authorities in any way we can. We will provide additional updates as our investigations progress. | |
| “Consumers who believe they may have a Hotpoint fridge freezer model number FF175BP or FF175BG should call our freephone hotline on 0800 316 3826 or visit hotpointservice.co.uk/fridgefreezer so that we can register their details and contact them with further information.” | |
| 11.47am BST | |
| 11:47 | |
| Lisa O'Carroll | |
| Britons in Europe have vented their anger at May’s offer to EU citizens in the UK, saying she has “spun” the offer as something “generous” when it falls far short of the offer the EU made to Britons on 12 June. | |
| Dave Spokes, a spokesman for the Ex Pats Citizens Rights in Europe said: | |
| “We are not surprised that Mr Junker has described Theresa May’s offer on citizens rights as ‘not sufficient’. | |
| “This reflects our own assessment. It seems a very odd strategy for the UK to offer less support for citizens than that being offered by the EU. Should they not be encouraging the the EU to give more? | |
| “This is not a negotiation to get the lowest possible price. It is, or should be, a negotiation to gain the best support for real people - a country’s citizens.” | |
| 11.43am BST | 11.43am BST |
| 11:43 | 11:43 |
| Severin Carrell | Severin Carrell |
| Nicola Sturgeon has welcomed Theresa May’s offer to allow EU citizens rights to stay in the UK after Brexit, but condemned the long delay in offering reassurances. | Nicola Sturgeon has welcomed Theresa May’s offer to allow EU citizens rights to stay in the UK after Brexit, but condemned the long delay in offering reassurances. |
| Speaking to reporters at the Royal Highland Show, Scotland’s preeminent agricultural show, on the anniversary of last year’s EU referendum result, the first minister said she needed to see “the devil in the detail” of the offer before reaching a final view on whether it went far enough. | Speaking to reporters at the Royal Highland Show, Scotland’s preeminent agricultural show, on the anniversary of last year’s EU referendum result, the first minister said she needed to see “the devil in the detail” of the offer before reaching a final view on whether it went far enough. |
| “It has taken a year to get to this point and I think that’s disgraceful because the uncertainty caused to EU nationals has been considerable,” Sturgeon said. “And I think we will already have seen some choose to leave because of that uncertainty but the detail now matters. | “It has taken a year to get to this point and I think that’s disgraceful because the uncertainty caused to EU nationals has been considerable,” Sturgeon said. “And I think we will already have seen some choose to leave because of that uncertainty but the detail now matters. |
| “When we see that we will be able to see whether this goes far enough, or not, and it may well be in some cases it doesn’t.” | “When we see that we will be able to see whether this goes far enough, or not, and it may well be in some cases it doesn’t.” |
| The Scottish government has been pressing UK ministers to offer EU citizens full residency, alongside protecting free movement for EU citizens, including migrant workers seen as essential by fruit and vegetable farmers. She said the details which needed clarification included confirmation of the cut-off date for applications and the rights of family members. | The Scottish government has been pressing UK ministers to offer EU citizens full residency, alongside protecting free movement for EU citizens, including migrant workers seen as essential by fruit and vegetable farmers. She said the details which needed clarification included confirmation of the cut-off date for applications and the rights of family members. |
| Sturgeon also reiterated her call for Holyrood to have full control after Brexit over common agricultural payments in Scotland, currently worth around £500m a year, to allow it to introduce subsidies tailored to the needs of Scottish farmers. | Sturgeon also reiterated her call for Holyrood to have full control after Brexit over common agricultural payments in Scotland, currently worth around £500m a year, to allow it to introduce subsidies tailored to the needs of Scottish farmers. |
| Holyrood has protected less favoured area subsidies for hill farmers which were abolished in England, amongst other distinctive policies. It is feared that Michael Gove, the new UK environment secretary, will insist on UK-wide farming policies and payments. | Holyrood has protected less favoured area subsidies for hill farmers which were abolished in England, amongst other distinctive policies. It is feared that Michael Gove, the new UK environment secretary, will insist on UK-wide farming policies and payments. |
| 11.40am BST | 11.40am BST |
| 11:40 | 11:40 |
| Here are the main points from McCormack’s statement and press conference: | Here are the main points from McCormack’s statement and press conference: |
| 79 people missing and presumed dead | 79 people missing and presumed dead |
| The number that we have of presumed, confirmed dead, or missing still remains at 79, with nine people being formally identified as dead. | The number that we have of presumed, confirmed dead, or missing still remains at 79, with nine people being formally identified as dead. |
| I know that there is a fear that that number is a lot higher and I do not want any hidden victims of this tragedy. We are prioritising establishing exactly who is was in Grenfell Tower that night. | I know that there is a fear that that number is a lot higher and I do not want any hidden victims of this tragedy. We are prioritising establishing exactly who is was in Grenfell Tower that night. |
| Immigration amnesty | Immigration amnesty |
| The Home Office has assured us that they will not use this tragedy to check people immigration status, and neither will the police. I urge people now who now people who were in that tower that night, either as resident of people visiting to phone the incident room on 0800 032 4539. | The Home Office has assured us that they will not use this tragedy to check people immigration status, and neither will the police. I urge people now who now people who were in that tower that night, either as resident of people visiting to phone the incident room on 0800 032 4539. |
| The investigation | The investigation |
| This is one of the largest and most complex investigations that the Metropolitan police has ever undertaken. There are currently over 250 specialist investigators working on all aspects of this investigation. It will establish how the fire started and the speed and spread that it took hold of that building. | This is one of the largest and most complex investigations that the Metropolitan police has ever undertaken. There are currently over 250 specialist investigators working on all aspects of this investigation. It will establish how the fire started and the speed and spread that it took hold of that building. |
| There are two points of priority for me: the speed that it spread through the building but also the internal safety aspects of that building. On the first point: we are examining with experts the aluminium cladding and the insulation behind the cladding; how the tiles were fixed to the building; and how it was installed. | There are two points of priority for me: the speed that it spread through the building but also the internal safety aspects of that building. On the first point: we are examining with experts the aluminium cladding and the insulation behind the cladding; how the tiles were fixed to the building; and how it was installed. |
| Cladding failed test | Cladding failed test |
| Preliminary tests on the insulation samples collected from Grenfell Tower show that they combusted soon after the test started. The initial test on the cladding tiles also failed the safety tests. Such are our safety concerns on the outcome of those tests, we have shared our data with the department of communities and local government, and we have ensured that that information data has been shared with every council. | Preliminary tests on the insulation samples collected from Grenfell Tower show that they combusted soon after the test started. The initial test on the cladding tiles also failed the safety tests. Such are our safety concerns on the outcome of those tests, we have shared our data with the department of communities and local government, and we have ensured that that information data has been shared with every council. |
| Fire started with a Hotpoint fridge freezer | Fire started with a Hotpoint fridge freezer |
| We are also concerned about the fridge freezer in this matter and we have been working with the department of energy, business, and industrial strategy who are working with Hotpoint on the safety of that fridge. We know this fire wasn’t started deliberately and we know that the fridge freezer in this matter has never been subject of a product recall before. | We are also concerned about the fridge freezer in this matter and we have been working with the department of energy, business, and industrial strategy who are working with Hotpoint on the safety of that fridge. We know this fire wasn’t started deliberately and we know that the fridge freezer in this matter has never been subject of a product recall before. |
| 600 emergency calls some over an hour long | 600 emergency calls some over an hour long |
| We have seized a huge amount of CCTV and we have received over 70 images and moving footage following our appeals. | We have seized a huge amount of CCTV and we have received over 70 images and moving footage following our appeals. |
| On the night we received over 600 999 calls made to fire, ambulance and the police and we have listened to everyone of those to truly understand the fire and how it took hold that night. Some of those calls are over an hour long and truly harrowing in their content. | On the night we received over 600 999 calls made to fire, ambulance and the police and we have listened to everyone of those to truly understand the fire and how it took hold that night. Some of those calls are over an hour long and truly harrowing in their content. |
| We have started to take statements from the occupants and visitors to Grenfell tower that night and this work will continue. | We have started to take statements from the occupants and visitors to Grenfell tower that night and this work will continue. |
| Every organisation involved in refurbishment being investigated | Every organisation involved in refurbishment being investigated |
| In terms of seizing relevant material from a number of organisations I can confirm that that has already started. | In terms of seizing relevant material from a number of organisations I can confirm that that has already started. |
| If I find out that individuals or organisations have committed offences then I must be in a position to prosecute without prejudice to any proceedings. We are looking at every criminal offence from manslaughter onwards. We are looking at every health and safety and fire safety offences and we are reviewing every company at the moment involved in the building and refurbishment of Grenfell Tower. | If I find out that individuals or organisations have committed offences then I must be in a position to prosecute without prejudice to any proceedings. We are looking at every criminal offence from manslaughter onwards. We are looking at every health and safety and fire safety offences and we are reviewing every company at the moment involved in the building and refurbishment of Grenfell Tower. |
| We are not raiding. We have seized documents. | We are not raiding. We have seized documents. |
| Search will last until the end of the year at least | Search will last until the end of the year at least |
| Our search of Grenfell Tower to recover all those inside and return them to their loved ones continues. The working conditions are difficult and distressing in many ways. Such is that devastation this may take at least until the end of the year. And there is a terrible reality that we may not find or identify all those who died during the fire. Which is why I appeal to people who know people who are still missing to please come forward. | Our search of Grenfell Tower to recover all those inside and return them to their loved ones continues. The working conditions are difficult and distressing in many ways. Such is that devastation this may take at least until the end of the year. And there is a terrible reality that we may not find or identify all those who died during the fire. Which is why I appeal to people who know people who are still missing to please come forward. |
| It is dangerous scene and so the investigation has to be done extremely sensitively. Working with the coroner, Dr Fiona Wilcox on this and her and my absolute wish, is that we recover everything we can from that scene, and that we treat everybody there with integrity and dignity. | It is dangerous scene and so the investigation has to be done extremely sensitively. Working with the coroner, Dr Fiona Wilcox on this and her and my absolute wish, is that we recover everything we can from that scene, and that we treat everybody there with integrity and dignity. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 11.40am BST | at 11.40am BST |
| 10.57am BST | 10.57am BST |
| 10:57 | 10:57 |
| Here’s audio of the Scotland Yard press conference on the Grenfell Tower fire. | Here’s audio of the Scotland Yard press conference on the Grenfell Tower fire. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 11.36am BST | at 11.36am BST |