Labour is today accusing the Conservatives of breaking their promises to the people affected by the Grenfell tower disaster by voting against an amendment that would have implemented key safety recommendations of the Grenfell report.
Leader of the opposition Keir Starmer called it “A shameful dereliction of duty.”
Tonight, Conservative MPs voted against putting into law the implementation of the Grenfell Inquiry Phase I recommendations.
A shameful dereliction of duty.
— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) September 7, 2020
Labour’s amendment to the Fire Safety Bill would have required owners of flats to share details of the design and materials used in their buildings with their local fire service.
Regular inspections of common areas and entrance doors would have become mandatory as well as making residents aware of evacuation and emergency protocols.
Just getting home from Parliament..
I voted for the implementation of the Grenfell Inquiry Phase I recommendations.Conservative MPs voted against!
They have no shame, no heart and no compassion. #Grenfell 💚 pic.twitter.com/gWDIRc1Vjn
— Dawn Butler MP✊🏾💙 (@DawnButlerBrent) September 7, 2020
The amendment was defeated by 188 votes to 318, majority 130 last night and was voted down by Kensington MP Felicity Buchan who has Grenfell tower in her constituency. James Brokenshire, junior minister at the Home Office defended the speed with which the government is implementing Grenfell report recommendations.
The Grenfell Inquiry’s first report found the tower’s cladding was not compliant with fire safety regulations and was the main reason for the fire’s spread and made a series of recommendations to help prevent another deadly high-rise fire.
Sarah Jones MP, Shadow Minister for Policing and Fire, said:“This is a shameful U-turn from Government. They have broken a solemn promise to take action following the Grenfell Inquiry.
“They continue to shirk responsibility on fire safety after the most powerful and tragic lesson imaginable. Despite words saying this must never happen again, tens of thousands of people are still living in buildings with flammable cladding.”
