Government 'cover-up' led to Grenfell

TRAGEDY INQUIRY CLAIM. Call for ex-PM Cameron to be quizzed over 'one of the greatest scandals of our time'. Call Cameron. Ex-PM must be quizzed over Grenfell Tower failures. Fire risk cover-ups a major scandal of our time

- MATTHEW YOUNG

THE cladding fire risk was covered up by ministers for years before Grenfell, it was claimed yesterday.

And it is one of the major scandals of our time”, the inquiry heard.

David Cameron faced calls to appear for allegedly mocking health and safety rules.

DAVID Cameron must answer questions over Grenfell Tower and his involvement in "one of the major scandals of our time", the inquiry into the tragedy has heard.

For over 30 years successive governments covered up the extent of the cladding crisis that led to the blaze that killed 72 people, according to lawyers for the bereaved and survivors.

And in the years leading to the 2017 disaster, then-Prime Minister Mr Cameron ridiculed health and safety rules, “relegating citizens...to effectively a bonfire", said Michael Mansfield QC.

In 2010, the year he arrived in Downing Street, Mr Cameron said he wanted to "scrap health and safety rules that put people off”, Mr Mansfield said.