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Grenfell Tower fire: Second phase of inquiry to begin Grenfell Tower fire: Second phase of inquiry begins
(about 3 hours later)
The second phase of the Grenfell Tower fire inquiry is to begin later, days after one of its panellists resigned. The second phase of the Grenfell Tower fire inquiry has been opened, days after one of its panellists resigned.
The inquiry will shift focus from the night of the fire to issues including the refurbishment of the building and the block's deadly cladding.The inquiry will shift focus from the night of the fire to issues including the refurbishment of the building and the block's deadly cladding.
It comes after Benita Mehra resigned over her links to the charitable arm of the firm which supplied the cladding.It comes after Benita Mehra resigned over her links to the charitable arm of the firm which supplied the cladding.
The Cabinet Office has defended her appointment, though it has not said if or when she will be replaced.The Cabinet Office has defended her appointment, though it has not said if or when she will be replaced.
Grenfell United - a group representing survivors and bereaved families - had accused the government of failing to carry out "basic checks", while London Mayor Sadiq Khan said the appointment should never have been made. Families and friends of victims were present in the hearing room in Paddington, where inquiry chairman Sir Martin Moore-Bick opened the second phase.
Richard Millett QC, counsel to the inquiry, told the room that no company or organisation has accepted responsibility.
"What happened was, as each of them would have it, someone else's fault," he said.
He added that the inquiry is about finding facts and making recommendations, and that determining accountability will follow.
Michael Mansfield QC, who represents some of the victims' families, said there has been "a stunning silence" from the government over Ms Mehra's resignation.
Grenfell United - a group representing survivors and bereaved families - has accused the government of failing to carry out "basic checks", while London Mayor Sadiq Khan said Ms Mehra's appointment should never have been made.
Grenfell United also called for the inquiry to change how it deals with families, saying concerns had been raised "many times" about the "indifference" shown towards the bereaved and survivors.Grenfell United also called for the inquiry to change how it deals with families, saying concerns had been raised "many times" about the "indifference" shown towards the bereaved and survivors.
"We need to know that the inquiry team will change how it deals with families, remove any blockages that staff may be creating and bring this process back to putting families at the centre," the group added."We need to know that the inquiry team will change how it deals with families, remove any blockages that staff may be creating and bring this process back to putting families at the centre," the group added.
In response, the Cabinet Office said: "There are robust processes in place to ensure the Grenfell Tower inquiry remains independent and that any potential conflicts of interest are properly considered and managed.In response, the Cabinet Office said: "There are robust processes in place to ensure the Grenfell Tower inquiry remains independent and that any potential conflicts of interest are properly considered and managed.
"As with any public appointment, due process has been followed in this case, and Benita Mehra's appointment was approved.""As with any public appointment, due process has been followed in this case, and Benita Mehra's appointment was approved."
Engineer Ms Mehra was a past president of the Women's Engineering Society, which received funding from the Arconic Foundation.Engineer Ms Mehra was a past president of the Women's Engineering Society, which received funding from the Arconic Foundation.
Arconic supplied the cladding on the outside of the west London tower block.Arconic supplied the cladding on the outside of the west London tower block.
AnalysisAnalysis
By BBC home affairs correspondent Tom SymondsBy BBC home affairs correspondent Tom Symonds
The first part of the Grenfell Inquiry had the task of examining the events of just one night.The first part of the Grenfell Inquiry had the task of examining the events of just one night.
Part two could go back years in its search to explain the 2017 tragedy.Part two could go back years in its search to explain the 2017 tragedy.
It will look and feel different. A new hearing centre, closer to the community, replaces the previous unpopular conference room in the heart of London's legal district.It will look and feel different. A new hearing centre, closer to the community, replaces the previous unpopular conference room in the heart of London's legal district.
Instead of the harrowing accounts of firefighters and residents, the evidence will emerge from emails, technical specifications and planning documents.Instead of the harrowing accounts of firefighters and residents, the evidence will emerge from emails, technical specifications and planning documents.
It will be slow going, but it should get to the heart of what went wrong.It will be slow going, but it should get to the heart of what went wrong.
Because although the training and management of the firefighters was criticised in part one, they were not the cause of the fire.Because although the training and management of the firefighters was criticised in part one, they were not the cause of the fire.
The questions which will be answered are these:The questions which will be answered are these:
However dry the evidence could become, all those involved know this is about getting justice for those who died, because, at the end of this process, the public inquiry could be followed by a criminal trial.However dry the evidence could become, all those involved know this is about getting justice for those who died, because, at the end of this process, the public inquiry could be followed by a criminal trial.
The first phase of the inquiry found the cladding did not comply with building regulations and was the "principal" reason for the rapid and "profoundly shocking" spread of the fire, which killed 72 people.The first phase of the inquiry found the cladding did not comply with building regulations and was the "principal" reason for the rapid and "profoundly shocking" spread of the fire, which killed 72 people.
In her resignation letter to the prime minister, published on Saturday, Ms Mehra said she recognised and respected the "depth of feeling" among some about her appointment.In her resignation letter to the prime minister, published on Saturday, Ms Mehra said she recognised and respected the "depth of feeling" among some about her appointment.
Families had been threatening to boycott the opening of the second phase of the Grenfell inquiry over her appointment.Families had been threatening to boycott the opening of the second phase of the Grenfell inquiry over her appointment.
Opening submissions for the first three modules of the second phase of the inquiry are expected this week.Opening submissions for the first three modules of the second phase of the inquiry are expected this week.
These include an overview of the primary refurbishment of Grenfell Tower, including the cladding, the testing and certification of the cladding, and the fire safety measures including complaints and communications with the residents.These include an overview of the primary refurbishment of Grenfell Tower, including the cladding, the testing and certification of the cladding, and the fire safety measures including complaints and communications with the residents.
The inquiry's first phase concluded "many more lives" could have been saved if the advice to residents to "stay put" had been abandoned earlier.The inquiry's first phase concluded "many more lives" could have been saved if the advice to residents to "stay put" had been abandoned earlier.
It was highly critical of the London Fire Brigade and fire commissioner Dany Cotton, saying preparations for such a fire were "gravely inadequate".It was highly critical of the London Fire Brigade and fire commissioner Dany Cotton, saying preparations for such a fire were "gravely inadequate".
Ms Cotton retired early after facing calls from victims' families to resign.Ms Cotton retired early after facing calls from victims' families to resign.
She had told the inquiry she would not have changed anything about the way her crews responded to the blaze, provoking anger from survivors and victims' families.She had told the inquiry she would not have changed anything about the way her crews responded to the blaze, provoking anger from survivors and victims' families.