Removal of unsafe cladding from at-risk buildings 'too slow' - Rayner

Angela Rayner has called efforts to remove unsafe cladding from thousands of at-risk buildings "too slow" and said it is her job to ensure remaining works finish as quickly as possible.

- Sammy Gecsoyler

The deputy prime minister made the comments during a visit to Dagenham, east London, yesterday afternoon, the day after a dramatic fire tore through a block of flats that was undergoing remedial works to remove "non-compliant cladding".

More than 100 people were evacuated from the eight-storey building and two were taken to hospital. By Monday afternoon, the London fire brigade (LFB) said the blaze was under control and that all residents were accounted for.

Taking place a week before the publication of the final report of the Grenfell inquiry, the incident raised questions about the slow pace of remedial works on unsafe buildings since the 2017 tragedy.