Anne Clarke AM discusses the Grenfell Tower Inquiry report

The investigation exposed the extent of neglect, poor decision-making, and disregard for safety that led to the loss of 72 lives. We now know every death was avoidable. As we move forward, it’s crucial that the memory of Grenfell stays at the forefront of our minds, especially for policy makers.  

The report revealed that the tragedy was not an isolated incident, but the result of systemic failures by the institutions that should have protected the Grenfell community - the government, social housing landlords, the local council, the London Fire Brigade, regulatory bodies and product manufacturers.  

The importance of implementing the recommendations is imminent – and we are seeing the need to act urgently.

Only weeks before the final report, a fire in Dagenham demonstrated the active risk of poorly constructed buildings. The response to the incident by the London Fire Brigade would have been very different without the focused implementation of the Phase One recommendations by the organisation and the Mayor of London.  

Anne Clarke says recommendations in the Grenfell Tower Inquiry report need to be acted on urgently (Image: www.jamesojenkins.co.uk) Yet fires like this demonstrate that the safety of residential buildings is still compromised. 

In my role as a London Assembly Member, I have seen first-hand the deep frustration shared by many around this issue.

The real threat to safety remains until the wider building safety crisis is resolved. We cannot expect our first responders to walk into dangerous situations created by regulatory failings and substandard maintenance. We cannot let Londoners live in buildings that put them in danger. 

Until we fully address this crisis, we will find ourselves stuck in the same conversations about how to protect firefighters and high-rise residents from preventable risks. 

The work done by the Mayor of London and the London Fire Brigade is a step in the right direction, but it is not enough on its own. Delays by the previous government in acting on earlier recommendations and addressing cladding issues have only prolonged the crisis. 

I welcome the Deputy Prime Minister’s recent commitment to speeding up the cladding remediation process and holding those responsible to account.

The urgency to ensure people live in safe homes is also reflected in the various legislation announced in the King’s Speech, including the Renters Reform Bill and the Product Safety and Metrology Bill. 

We must not let the momentum fade. The fight for safe, secure housing cannot stop until we have built a system that prevents tragedies like Grenfell from happening again.  

• Anne Clarke is Labour London Assembly member for Barnet and Camden.