Grenfell United made a statement on the deadly fire inquiry.Source: Reuters
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00:00I will now read a statement on behalf of Grenfell United. We will not be taking questions after.
00:07Today marks the conclusion of a painful six years listening to the advice that contributed to the
00:14deaths of 54 adults and 18 children. They were our loved ones, our neighbours and our friends.
00:21Today's report speaks to the lack of competence, understanding and fundamental failure to perform
00:31the most basic duties of care. We paid the price of systematic dishonesty, institutional indifference
00:40and neglect. The government ignored warnings about dangerous cladding from as early as 1991.
00:48It knew the risks but failed to prevent them, revealing the greed and profiteering of an
00:54industry that has been poorly regulated by governments over decades. It uncovers the
01:01systematic failings at the TMO and RBKC which created a toxic calculated culture which marginalised
01:10its residents. It shows the senior management at the London Fire Brigade knew about the risk
01:18of cladding fires but did nothing to prepare. But above all the judge concludes what we already knew
01:27that every single loss of life that night was avoidable. Human life was never a priority
01:34and we lost friends, neighbours and loved ones in the most horrific way through greed, corruption,
01:42incompetence and negligence. The recommendations published today are basic safety principles
01:50that should already exist, highlighting how the government's role, duties and obligations
01:57have been hollowed out by privatisation. Where voids were created as the government
02:03outsourced their duties, Kingspan, Celatex and Arconic filled the gaps with substandard
02:10and combustible materials. They were allowed to manipulate the testing regimes, fraudulently
02:17and knowingly market their products as safe. Today we send a message to Keir Starmer and his
02:25government. This country has been failed by governments of all political persuasions.
02:31Our expectation is your government will break old habits and implement all the recommendations
02:38made by Sir Martin Morbick's report without further delay because the time to address this
02:44is already three decades too late. For the report to be worth anything it must be and bring
02:51systematic change. To prevent another tragedy like Grenfell your government needs to create
02:57something that doesn't exist. You must become a government with the power and ability to separate
03:04itself from the construction industry and corporate lobbying. A government that prioritises
03:10and tackles declaring structural injustices and social and racial inequalities of the people you
03:15serve. You must now finally make this the turning point for Britain. To the police and the Crown
03:21Prosecution Service it's now on to you to deliver justice, to bring charges to those culpable for
03:28the deaths of our loved ones. We would like to thank the public for their continuous support of
03:34the bereaved survivors and the Grenfell community. You were there for us when when it happened. We
03:39asked for you to continue to stand with us, to stand for what's right and help us in holding
03:45those responsible to account. Finally to the 54 adults and 18 children whose lives got cut short
03:54in the most violent way, we will never give up fighting for justice for you and you will
04:00forever be in our hearts. Thank you.