This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-40438701

The article has changed 16 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 9 Version 10
Grenfell fire: Retired judge to lead disaster inquiry Grenfell Tower: Retired judge to lead disaster inquiry
(about 2 hours later)
Retired Court of Appeal judge Sir Martin Moore-Bick has been chosen to lead the public inquiry into the Grenfell Tower fire, sources say.Retired Court of Appeal judge Sir Martin Moore-Bick has been chosen to lead the public inquiry into the Grenfell Tower fire, sources say.
The government is likely to confirm Sir Martin's appointment on Thursday. The government is likely to confirm the appointment of Sir Martin, described as "highly respected", on Thursday.
Police said 80 people are now presumed dead after the disaster in west London on 14 June.
But they warned the final death toll will not be known until at least the end of the year.
Who is Sir Martin?
Born in Wales and educated at Christ's College, Cambridge, the 70-year-old's career has spanned nearly five decades after being called to the Bar in 1969.
As a lawyer, he specialised in commercial law which involved dealing with disputes relating to maritime and land transport of goods.
Sir Martin went on to spend more than 20 years as a judge of the Commercial Court and Court of Appeal until his retirement in 2016.
A legal source who has worked with him said he was "highly respected" in the profession and "intellectually superb".A legal source who has worked with him said he was "highly respected" in the profession and "intellectually superb".
Police have said 80 people are now presumed dead in the Grenfell disaster, which happened in west London on 14 June. In November 2014, Sir Martin oversaw a case in which he ruled a London tenant could be rehoused 50 miles away.
But the final death toll will not be known until at least the end of the year. His decision that Westminster City Council could rehouse single mother-of-five Titina Nzolameso in Bletchley near Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, was overturned by the Supreme Court in April 2015.
Sir Martin said it was not necessary for the council to explain what accommodation was available.
Ms Nzolameso said moving so far would deprive her of the network of friends who supported her when she was unwell, while her solicitor said his decision "gives the green light for social cleansing".
Who are the Grenfell victims?
Eighteen people have been formally identified by the coroner, but not all names have been released.
The opening of inquests into seven of the victims heard six-month-old Leena Belkadi was found dead in her mother's arms.
Most of those who died in the fire were said to be in 23 of the North Kensington tower block's 129 flats.Most of those who died in the fire were said to be in 23 of the North Kensington tower block's 129 flats.
Some residents tried to move up the building to escape the flames - and it is thought a number may have ended up in one flat.Some residents tried to move up the building to escape the flames - and it is thought a number may have ended up in one flat.
Police are tracing victims via "every imaginable source" of information; from government agencies to fast food firms.
Victims will have state funding for legal representation at the inquiry.Victims will have state funding for legal representation at the inquiry.
In November 2014, Sir Martin oversaw a housing case in which he ruled a London tenant could be rehoused 50 miles away. Residents' frustration
His decision that Westminster City Council could rehouse single mother-of-five Titina Nzolameso in Bletchley near Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, was overturned by the Supreme Court in April 2015. Survivors and relatives of those who died have expressed frustration at the progress of the investigation.
Ms Nzolameso, who had serious health problems, couldn't afford her London flat after the government's benefits cap. They confronted housing minister Alok Sharma MP on the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme on Wednesday, two weeks on from the fire.
During the case, she said moving out of the capital to Buckinghamshire would deprive her of the network of friends that supported her when she was unwell. During the TV programme, residents and survivors described the problems they had faced since the blaze.
Following the ruling, Jayesh Kunwardia of Hodge Jones & Allen Solicitors - which represented Ms Nzolameso - said: "This judgment could have dire consequences for vulnerable families across the country. "I am not moving my child from here, to here, to here, to here - I want permanent accommodation," Oluwaseun Talabi, who escaped the fire with his wife and young daughter, told Mr Sharma.
"It gives the green light for councils to engage in social cleansing of the poor on a mass scale." The group described the practical problems they have faced in being rehoused; trying to replace burned documents; accessing funding; being unable to return to work without a permanent base; and their dealings with the authorities.
Sir Martin said it was not necessary for the council to explain in detail what other accommodation was available. The minister told them people would be offered a suitable place to live within three weeks of the fire.
Sir Martin Moore-Bick High-rises fail fire tests
Sir Martin retired as a Lord Justice of Appeal in December. Questions were raised about the cladding used on Grenfell in the immediate aftermath of the disaster, which led to a nation-wide operation to test buildings with similar cladding.
As a lawyer, he specialised in commercial law before spending more than 20 years as a judge of the Commercial Court and Court of Appeal. Prime Minister Theresa May told the Commons on Wednesday that cladding from 120 high-rise buildings in 37 local authority areas in England has failed fire safety tests.
The legal source told the BBC: "He (Sir Martin) is unfailingly courteous (and) prepared to change his mind in the light of persuasive argument and evidence." This was a 100% failure rate, she told MPs, as all of the samples submitted so far since the Grenfell Tower fire had failed.
Mrs May has urged councils and housing associations to "get on with the fire safety checks".
An expert panel to advise on immediate safety action has been appointed following the safety failures.
However, National Housing Federation chief executive David Orr has argued it is time to stop tests on cladding.
He told Newsnight's Evan Davis it was now time to prioritise what we do to make people feel safe in their homes.
What is a public inquiry?What is a public inquiry?
By Brian Wheeler, BBC NewsBy Brian Wheeler, BBC News
Public inquiries are set up for many reasons. Sometimes they are designed to expose the truth after a controversy, or apportion blame to individuals.Public inquiries are set up for many reasons. Sometimes they are designed to expose the truth after a controversy, or apportion blame to individuals.
More often, they simply produce recommendations, which the government can choose to follow or not. Recent examples include Leveson, into press standards, and Chilcot, into the Iraq War.More often, they simply produce recommendations, which the government can choose to follow or not. Recent examples include Leveson, into press standards, and Chilcot, into the Iraq War.
They differ from police investigations because they are conducted, in part at least, in public. They might even be televised.They differ from police investigations because they are conducted, in part at least, in public. They might even be televised.
They can be run by a judge, with witnesses giving evidence under oath, but there is no fixed model. Much depends on the "terms of reference".They can be run by a judge, with witnesses giving evidence under oath, but there is no fixed model. Much depends on the "terms of reference".
They can also drag on for years and cost millions of pounds - although the government says it wants the Grenfell Tower inquiry to "move with speed".They can also drag on for years and cost millions of pounds - although the government says it wants the Grenfell Tower inquiry to "move with speed".