Prevarication, delays and obstruction

Familes vent fury at the long wait to hold those responsible for blaze to account

- Rachael Burford, Tristan Kirk, Anthony France and Miriam Burrell

SEVENTY-TWO people died at Grenfell. Today, 72 months after the inferno, survivors, the bereaved and campaigners say there is still no justice.

But they are also crystal clear that time, delays, prevarication and even wilful obstruction will not break their inexorable quest for justice over the appalling failures at Grenfell, which brought so much horror, grief and shame to Britain on that night six years ago.

“Seventy-two lives we can never get back. How can we ever give up fighting for justice?” said Yvette Williams, who lives in West Kensington and co-founded the Justice4Grenfell group.

Hundreds, if not thousands, of people were due to join a silent walk today to mark the sixth anniversary of the tragedy, with those taking part encouraged to wear green to show that they “stand united” in the campaign to hold people accountable for the Grenfell failings.

“Today’s anniversary feels significant, it marks 72 months since the fire. Seventy-two months ago, 72 people died, a month for every life lost,” said Natasha Elcock — survivor, bereaved and chair of Grenfell United. “We won’t stop fighting until justice is served.”

Key figures in the disastrous refurbishment at Grenfell Tower are braced for a potentially damning report on the causes of the tragedy. The Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, cladding manufacturers and the architects behind the refurbishment of the tower are all awaiting the final conclusions of a public inquiry into the 2017 fire. However, Sir Martin Moore-Bick, chairman of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, is not expected to deliver his findings until next year.