London fire: Jeremy Corbyn says 'truth must come out' during visit to Grenfell Tower refuge centre

Chris Baynes15 June 2017

Jeremy Corbyn said "the truth has got to come out" as he visited those affected by the Grenfell Tower blaze.

The Labour leader spoke to volunteers and community leaders at St Clements Church, where a refuge centre has been set up to help victims of the devastating fire.

His visit came hours after Theresa May made a private visit to the blaze site.

She met with fire crews who have been searching for bodies and working to extinguish flames still flickering at the 24-storey tower, but did not speak to members of the public or media.

Jeremy Corbyn spoke to friends and family of missing residents
David Mirzoeff/Reuters

The Prime Minister later announced a judge-led public inquiry into the disaster amid growing anger over safety failings.

Asked about an investigation into the circumstances of the fire, Mr Corbyn said: "We have to get to the bottom of this.

"The truth has got to come out and it will."

Rick Findler/PA

As volunteers showed him donations that have poured in since the disaster, he told them: "It's great that you're in place."

Mr Corbyn's Labour colleague David Lammy, MP for Tottenham MP, said “arrests” should be made over what he branded “corporate manslaughter”.

He is searching for close family friend, 24-year-old artist Khadija Saye, who lived on the tower’s 20th floor.

The Labour leader said "the truth has got to come out"
Neil Hall/Reuters

“This is the richest borough in our country treating its citizens in this way,” Mr Lammy said.

“It’s corporate manslaughter. There should be arrests made frankly.”

Residents of Grenfell Tower, on the Ladbroke West estate, had repeatedly raised concerns about fire safety. They have claimed their fears "fell on deaf ears" at Kensington and Chelsea council and the company that manages the authority's social housing.

Jeremy Corbyn visited spoke to volunteers, emergency services and community leaders
Jack Taylor/Getty Images

Kensington Labour MP Emma Dent Coad said she "would absolutely back" a public inquiry.

Hammersmith Labour MP Andy Slaughter said: “A full public inquiry would seem to be a suitable route.

“But we also need rapid action to identify causes and risks and give assurances to those hundreds of thousands of people who live in high rise blocks.”

The flames were still burning inside the tower today
PA

There have been warnings that one in five fire safety checks on tower blocks may be inadequate and that some fire risk assessors may not be properly qualified.

Police and fire minister Nick Hurd was due to update MPs on Thursday afternoon during a special meeting in Parliament, as Labour claimed “paralysis in Downing Street” was hampering the Government’s response.

A public inquiry would take evidence from the town hall, fire experts and victims of the tragedy.

It will likely also hear from the Government, the former Tory housing minister Gavin Barwell who is now Mrs May’s chief-of-staff, who has faced allegations that his department failed to act swiftly enough on proposals to improve safety.

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