The contractor that installed the cladding at Grenfell Tower was investigated over allegations of “poor workmanship” during the project, according to new documents.
A report by the block’s management company — at first classified as confidential — lists a litany of complaints from residents, including concerns about shoddy work by the contractor.
The management company, Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation (KCTMO), concluded there was no merit in any of the complaints.
The investigation was discussed at a KCTMO meeting on March 31 last year while the works were in progress, but the relevant section of the agenda is marked “confidential”. A copy of the five-page inquiry was subsequently given to residents.
David Collins, former chairman of the Grenfell Tower residents association, said: “They were unwilling to listen to what we were telling them about the appalling manner and quality of the construction works.”
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It is understood KCTMO thinks residents’ concerns were taken seriously and were properly and independently investigated.
This morning John McDonnell repeated claims that political decisions that contributed to the fire amount to “social murder”.
The shadow chancellor told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show: “Political decisions were made which resulted in the deaths of these people. That’s a scandal.”
Pressed on the use of the word “murder”, Mr McDonnell replied: “There’s a long history in this country of the concept of social murder where decisions are made with no regard to consequences of that, and as a result of that people have suffered. That’s what’s happened here, and I’m angry.”
He added: “I believe social murder has occurred in this instance and I believe people should be accountable.”
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Philip Hammond, the chancellor, said: “There is absolutely not a shred of evidence to support that.”
Matt Wrack, general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union, wrote to Theresa May yesterday over concerns about a “postcode lottery” in emergency responses to tower block fires. A BBC Newsnight investigation on Friday found that only 31 of the country’s 44 fire services would have automatically sent a high ladder to a similar fire.
@JonUngoedThomas