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Grenfell fire: Inquiry head faces angry residents' meeting Grenfell fire: Inquiry head faces angry residents' meeting
(about 1 hour later)
The retired judge who will head the Grenfell Tower inquiry has faced angry residents and survivors in a three-hour long meeting.The retired judge who will head the Grenfell Tower inquiry has faced angry residents and survivors in a three-hour long meeting.
A video of the meeting shows the ex-judge saying he would "find the facts as I see them from the evidence".A video of the meeting shows the ex-judge saying he would "find the facts as I see them from the evidence".
Joe Delaney, of the Grenfell Action Group, told the BBC that Sir Martin Moore-Bick was not jeered or booed, but people were sceptical about him.Joe Delaney, of the Grenfell Action Group, told the BBC that Sir Martin Moore-Bick was not jeered or booed, but people were sceptical about him.
He has already faced calls to step down just days after being appointed.He has already faced calls to step down just days after being appointed.
Sir Martin said he had been invited to the meeting by the Lancaster West Residents Association.Sir Martin said he had been invited to the meeting by the Lancaster West Residents Association.
He described it afterwards as a "very useful meeting".He described it afterwards as a "very useful meeting".
Mr Delaney told BBC Radio 5 live that Sir Martin "wasn't jeered or booed. It was more scepticism. You could hear people sighing and tutting".Mr Delaney told BBC Radio 5 live that Sir Martin "wasn't jeered or booed. It was more scepticism. You could hear people sighing and tutting".
"It got a bit loud before the end. The man couldn't even control the crowd and hold them. I have heard public speakers who can shut up a stadium full of thousands of people. This man couldn't hold a room with 200 or so people.""It got a bit loud before the end. The man couldn't even control the crowd and hold them. I have heard public speakers who can shut up a stadium full of thousands of people. This man couldn't hold a room with 200 or so people."
Local resident Melvyn Akins, 30, said there was "frustration, anger and confusion" in the meeting, and that Sir Martin told those gathered that he could not start work on the inquiry until his terms of reference were established. Local resident Melvyn Akins, 30, said there was "frustration, anger and confusion" in the meeting.
"It is going to be an uphill struggle. People feel abandoned. Now you have got somebody coming in and saying 'I am going to look into it all thoroughly' and it is not good enough.
"People firmly believe that arrests should be made as a result of the outcome of all of this. If arrests are not made, people are going to feel justice may not be being done.""People firmly believe that arrests should be made as a result of the outcome of all of this. If arrests are not made, people are going to feel justice may not be being done."
And Jacqui Haynes, who also attended the meeting, said: "He [Sir Martin] is trying to rush us so they can give us this document where the devil is in the detail and we will have one week to deal with it.
"Us residents who don't have their expertise, who don't have their professionalism and resources have had to fight. They are relying on us giving up, being tired and becoming overwhelmed."
In a short video recorded at the meeting, Sir Martin tells those at the meeting: "I can't do more than assure you that I know what it is to be impartial.In a short video recorded at the meeting, Sir Martin tells those at the meeting: "I can't do more than assure you that I know what it is to be impartial.
"I've been a judge for 20 years, and I give you my word that I will look into this matter to the very best of my ability and find the facts as I see them from the evidence."I've been a judge for 20 years, and I give you my word that I will look into this matter to the very best of my ability and find the facts as I see them from the evidence.
"That's my job, that's my training, and that's what I intend to do. Now if I can't satisfy you because you have some preconception about me as a person that's up to you.""That's my job, that's my training, and that's what I intend to do. Now if I can't satisfy you because you have some preconception about me as a person that's up to you."
But Mr Delaney told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the inquiry needed someone with a "common touch" to relate to the community.
"He didn't inspire confidence in anyone," he added. "I would rather see a criminal barrister [or] someone with a proven track record of holding public authorities to account."
Labour's Emma Dent Coad has said Sir Martin was "a technocrat" who lacked "credibility" with victims and should step down.Labour's Emma Dent Coad has said Sir Martin was "a technocrat" who lacked "credibility" with victims and should step down.
And shadow fire minister Chris Williamson also backed his departure, saying "local people are saying they don't have faith in him".And shadow fire minister Chris Williamson also backed his departure, saying "local people are saying they don't have faith in him".
But Lord Chancellor David Lidington said he had "complete confidence" in Sir Martin to carry out the inquiry.But Lord Chancellor David Lidington said he had "complete confidence" in Sir Martin to carry out the inquiry.
Fire testsFire tests
Earlier it emerged that cladding samples which failed safety tests in the wake of the fire will be subjected to further "large-scale" testing.Earlier it emerged that cladding samples which failed safety tests in the wake of the fire will be subjected to further "large-scale" testing.
Experts will fix a complete cladding system to a 30ft-high (9m) demonstration wall and subject it to "a severe fire", the government said.Experts will fix a complete cladding system to a 30ft-high (9m) demonstration wall and subject it to "a severe fire", the government said.
It comes after 190 samples out of 191 failed initial combustibility tests.It comes after 190 samples out of 191 failed initial combustibility tests.
Urgent tests were ordered on cladding from about 600 towers blocks in England after the Grenfell Tower fire, which killed at least 80 people, on 14 June.Urgent tests were ordered on cladding from about 600 towers blocks in England after the Grenfell Tower fire, which killed at least 80 people, on 14 June.
However, questions have since been asked about the nature of the process after all but one test resulted in a failure.However, questions have since been asked about the nature of the process after all but one test resulted in a failure.
The independent expert panel on safety has now said further testing will be carried out "as the next step".The independent expert panel on safety has now said further testing will be carried out "as the next step".
So far, tests have covered only the plastic "core" on panels similar to those used on Grenfell Tower.So far, tests have covered only the plastic "core" on panels similar to those used on Grenfell Tower.
The new process will subject a demonstration wall to a "severe fire in a flat breaking out of a window" and aim to establish whether it will then spread up the outside wall.The new process will subject a demonstration wall to a "severe fire in a flat breaking out of a window" and aim to establish whether it will then spread up the outside wall.
It will also assess how different types of aluminium composite material (ACM) panels behave with different types of insulation in a fire, the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) said.It will also assess how different types of aluminium composite material (ACM) panels behave with different types of insulation in a fire, the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) said.
ACM in the cladding is thought to have been a factor in the rapid spread of the fire at Grenfell Tower in west London.ACM in the cladding is thought to have been a factor in the rapid spread of the fire at Grenfell Tower in west London.
The results will help landlords decide on further actions they may need to take to ensure buildings are safe, the DCLG added.The results will help landlords decide on further actions they may need to take to ensure buildings are safe, the DCLG added.
The Local Government Association - which had called for the tests to be changed - said the new testing "needs to be undertaken urgently".The Local Government Association - which had called for the tests to be changed - said the new testing "needs to be undertaken urgently".
"We have been clear all along that entire cladding panels and the insulation behind them need to be fire tested together as a system, rather than just the core of the panels on their own," chairman Lord Porter added. The Fire Industry Association said tests so far had simply focused on the combustibility of the core material in the cladding while the new tests would determine whether cladding would "actually perform well in a real fire".
The Fire Industry Association, a trade association with more than 700 UK members, said it applauded the decision to carry out the fire tests. However, two housing providers in Greater Manchester have now suspended the removal of cladding on their high rise blocks because of "unclear advice" from the government.
Testing so far had simply focused on the combustibility of the core material in the cladding, it said, adding that the new tests would determine whether cladding would "actually perform well in a real fire". City West Housing Trust confirmed on Wednesday it was stopping its works on 12 of its buildings in Eccles, whilst Salix Homes said it had halted work on eight tower blocks in Salford.
However, social housing provider Salix Homes said it had halted work to remove cladding from eight tower blocks in Salford, Greater Manchester, saying government advice was now "unclear". A spokesman from the DCLG said government advice was "clear" that any tall building with ACM cladding will have a fire risk assessment by the local fire brigade, and that local authorities had dedicated caseworkers to "maintain a dialogue".
"Landlords, in conjunction with fire services, will then take decisions on building safety," he added.
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