Theresa May expands Grenfell inquiry panel after survivors' pressure

The Grenfell Tower inquiry panel is to be widened to include people with the skills to examine the cultural and community reasons behind the fatal fire, following pressure from survivors and families of victims, the government has announced.

The move comes after Theresa May originally opposed adding panel members alongside the existing inquiry chairman, Sir Martin Moore-Bick, a retired high court judge and a specialist in contract law.

The first stage, which begins on 21 May, will hear tributes to the deceased and then examine the night of the fire itself and the response of emergency services. The second stage will look at the lead-up to the fire, including decisions made over the refurbishment by the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, which has been widely blamed for the spreading of the blaze on 14 June 2017, which claimed 72 lives.

Adel Chaoui, who lost four relatives in the fire and led the petition for the Grenfell United survivors’ and bereaved group, said they were relieved at the decision, but should not have had to campaign for it.