Responding to the appointment of Sir Martin Moore-Bick as head of the public inquiry into the Grenfell Tower fire, John Healey MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, said:

“This inquiry must provide answers for the Grenfell Tower community, find out what has gone so badly wrong, and help ensure this tragedy is never repeated.

“Two weeks on from the fire, trust is low in the community around Grenfell Tower so it is vital that the inquiry gains the trust of Grenfell families and that their voices are heard throughout this process.

“Given we do not know when this inquiry will be completed, it must not be used by the government to delay making the urgent changes we already know are needed.

“We do not need a public inquiry to tell us that tower block residents need a commitment to up-front funding for necessary remedial work, including re-cladding and retrofitting sprinklers starting with the highest-risk buildings. Ministers have failed to give this clear funding commitment, and they should do so now.

“We do not need a public inquiry to know that our system of fire safety checks and controls is failing, and that an overhaul of building regulations is urgently needed as was recommended to the government in 2013 following the Lakanal House fire.”