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| Grenfell Tower survivors to be offered permanent UK residency | Grenfell Tower survivors to be offered permanent UK residency |
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| Survivors of the Grenfell Tower disaster whose immigration statuses are uncertain are to be allowed the chance to become permanent British residents, the Home Office has said. | Survivors of the Grenfell Tower disaster whose immigration statuses are uncertain are to be allowed the chance to become permanent British residents, the Home Office has said. |
| Ministers have agreed to extend a scheme that originally gave a one-year period of grace to foreign nationals directly affected by the fire, after being criticised for not going far enough. | Ministers have agreed to extend a scheme that originally gave a one-year period of grace to foreign nationals directly affected by the fire, after being criticised for not going far enough. |
| The immigration minister, Brandon Lewis, said: “Our initial response to this terrible tragedy was rightly focused on survivors’ immediate needs in the aftermath of the fire and ensuring they could access the services they need to start to rebuild their lives. | The immigration minister, Brandon Lewis, said: “Our initial response to this terrible tragedy was rightly focused on survivors’ immediate needs in the aftermath of the fire and ensuring they could access the services they need to start to rebuild their lives. |
| “However, since the Grenfell Tower immigration policy was announced, we have been planning for the future of those residents affected by these unprecedented events and listening to their feedback, as well as the views of Sir Martin Moore-Bick [the judge leading the inquiry into the disaster].” | “However, since the Grenfell Tower immigration policy was announced, we have been planning for the future of those residents affected by these unprecedented events and listening to their feedback, as well as the views of Sir Martin Moore-Bick [the judge leading the inquiry into the disaster].” |
| He added that the government wanted to give the survivors “greater certainty” over their long-term future in the UK, while stressing that leave to remain would depend on the “necessary security and criminality checks being met”. | |
| The shadow home secretary, Diane Abbott, said the government had still not gone far enough and called for the immediate right to indefinite leave to remain to be granted to all survivors. | The shadow home secretary, Diane Abbott, said the government had still not gone far enough and called for the immediate right to indefinite leave to remain to be granted to all survivors. |
| “The government is making concessions on allowing Grenfell survivors to stay, but these are piecemeal concessions,” the Labour MP said on Wednesday. “For the Grenfell inquiry to obtain all the facts, all survivors need to participate fully, whatever their status. And the idea of deporting anyone who has suffered this trauma is simply grotesque. Full rights to indefinite leave to remain should be granted to all survivors who need it.” | “The government is making concessions on allowing Grenfell survivors to stay, but these are piecemeal concessions,” the Labour MP said on Wednesday. “For the Grenfell inquiry to obtain all the facts, all survivors need to participate fully, whatever their status. And the idea of deporting anyone who has suffered this trauma is simply grotesque. Full rights to indefinite leave to remain should be granted to all survivors who need it.” |
| The Home Office said eligibility to remain indefinitely would depend upon passing security and criminality checks and having been resident in the UK legally for five years, clarifying that it was this final point the new measures were intended to address. | The Home Office said eligibility to remain indefinitely would depend upon passing security and criminality checks and having been resident in the UK legally for five years, clarifying that it was this final point the new measures were intended to address. |
| The government said survivors had until 30 November to apply. The Home Office declined to say how many had come forward so far, saying the application period was still open and it would publish the figures in due course. | The government said survivors had until 30 November to apply. The Home Office declined to say how many had come forward so far, saying the application period was still open and it would publish the figures in due course. |
| Jo Renshaw, a lawyer specialising in immigration, welcomed the proposal, but said she had concerns about the “very strict” cut-off point imposed. | Jo Renshaw, a lawyer specialising in immigration, welcomed the proposal, but said she had concerns about the “very strict” cut-off point imposed. |
| “[It] is done in person at a designated place in London by 30 November 2017. There does not seem to be any flexibility in relation to that,” she said. | “[It] is done in person at a designated place in London by 30 November 2017. There does not seem to be any flexibility in relation to that,” she said. |
| “Given that many of those who may fall within this policy are, understandably, not only traumatised by the fire itself, but also likely to be very worried about coming forward in person – or may not yet have heard about this policy – having such a rigid method and timeframe for applying for leave is perhaps inappropriate.” | “Given that many of those who may fall within this policy are, understandably, not only traumatised by the fire itself, but also likely to be very worried about coming forward in person – or may not yet have heard about this policy – having such a rigid method and timeframe for applying for leave is perhaps inappropriate.” |
| Renshaw, a solicitor with the firm Turpin & Miller, said she hoped there could be some leeway given to people who apply after 30 November. | Renshaw, a solicitor with the firm Turpin & Miller, said she hoped there could be some leeway given to people who apply after 30 November. |
| A spokesman for the North Kensington Law Centre, which has been working with survivors, welcomed the move, saying he hoped it would “give undocumented survivors of the Grenfell Tower disaster the confidence to access the support services they need”. | A spokesman for the North Kensington Law Centre, which has been working with survivors, welcomed the move, saying he hoped it would “give undocumented survivors of the Grenfell Tower disaster the confidence to access the support services they need”. |
| He said: “Campaigning groups have repeatedly pushed ministers to go much further and formulate policies that properly address the needs of the community in north Kensington. | He said: “Campaigning groups have repeatedly pushed ministers to go much further and formulate policies that properly address the needs of the community in north Kensington. |
| “Until now, the Home Office’s approach seriously risked silencing the voices of undocumented survivors in the Grenfell inquiry and was clearly failing to encourage undocumented individuals to access support. | “Until now, the Home Office’s approach seriously risked silencing the voices of undocumented survivors in the Grenfell inquiry and was clearly failing to encourage undocumented individuals to access support. |
| “Ministers must now ensure they effectively communicate this policy to give confidence to those survivors who haven’t yet been able to come forward. Further, the Home Office must confirm they will not introduce further tests or exclusions to apply for visas under this policy, and they must ensure all thresholds and checks are clearly communicated to applicants.” | “Ministers must now ensure they effectively communicate this policy to give confidence to those survivors who haven’t yet been able to come forward. Further, the Home Office must confirm they will not introduce further tests or exclusions to apply for visas under this policy, and they must ensure all thresholds and checks are clearly communicated to applicants.” |
| The full five-year period will be split into three consecutive spells that must be applied for in turn: one 12-month spell; followed by a couple of two-year stretches, with security checks being carried out before each is granted. Those already given the original 12-month period of leave will be similarly eligible to apply to extend up to five years, the government said. | The full five-year period will be split into three consecutive spells that must be applied for in turn: one 12-month spell; followed by a couple of two-year stretches, with security checks being carried out before each is granted. Those already given the original 12-month period of leave will be similarly eligible to apply to extend up to five years, the government said. |
| Renshaw expressed concern that the changes did not appear to allow applicants to bring family members, such as spouses and children, to the UK during the five years they would need to live here to become eligible for permanent residency. | Renshaw expressed concern that the changes did not appear to allow applicants to bring family members, such as spouses and children, to the UK during the five years they would need to live here to become eligible for permanent residency. |
| The Home Office said the relatives of survivors and victims would be able to stay in the UK for up to six months from their date of entry to “provide a short period of support to a survivor or to arrange the funeral of a family member”. | The Home Office said the relatives of survivors and victims would be able to stay in the UK for up to six months from their date of entry to “provide a short period of support to a survivor or to arrange the funeral of a family member”. |
| After opening and adjourning an inquest on Wednesday into the death of Ligaya Moore, 78, whose remains were recovered from the 21st floor of Grenfell Tower, the Westminster coroner said there may be only two more inquests to come. | After opening and adjourning an inquest on Wednesday into the death of Ligaya Moore, 78, whose remains were recovered from the 21st floor of Grenfell Tower, the Westminster coroner said there may be only two more inquests to come. |
| Dr Fiona Wilcox told the court that 68 inquests had been opened so far. Two more sets of remains were awaiting formal identification. She would not be able to confirm that all inquests had been opened until the process of recovering remains from the tower was complete, “but it does seem, as every day passes, that we are finally coming to a close”, she said. | Dr Fiona Wilcox told the court that 68 inquests had been opened so far. Two more sets of remains were awaiting formal identification. She would not be able to confirm that all inquests had been opened until the process of recovering remains from the tower was complete, “but it does seem, as every day passes, that we are finally coming to a close”, she said. |
| All those identified so far matched the missing list, she added. Last month, police said the final death toll from the fire may be lower than their previous estimate of about 80. | All those identified so far matched the missing list, she added. Last month, police said the final death toll from the fire may be lower than their previous estimate of about 80. |
| Moore was identified from dental records and her provisional cause of death was given as consistent with the effects of fire. She had moved to London from the Philippines in 1974 and married a British man, Jim Moore, who died several years ago. | Moore was identified from dental records and her provisional cause of death was given as consistent with the effects of fire. She had moved to London from the Philippines in 1974 and married a British man, Jim Moore, who died several years ago. |
| Her family said in a statement released last week that she had “built a new life in London”. But, they added, “the jolly, bubbly person, the lady who loves to dance and who laughed her heart out, succumbed to a fire which turned her laughter into silence”. | Her family said in a statement released last week that she had “built a new life in London”. But, they added, “the jolly, bubbly person, the lady who loves to dance and who laughed her heart out, succumbed to a fire which turned her laughter into silence”. |