Bereaved Families Accuse Rayner of Ignoring Their Voices

Angela Rayner, the Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary, has been accused of ignoring bereaved families of the Grenfell Tower fire after she announced the demolition of the block of flats.

Grenfell United, a group representing some bereaved families, criticized Rayner's decision, stating that families of the 72 people killed in the fire had not been consulted. They claimed that Rayner could not provide a reason for her decision and refused to confirm how many bereaved and survivors had been spoken to during the consultation.

The group also expressed outrage that Rayner's decision was made without considering the voices of the bereaved families. They stated that ignoring their wishes regarding the future of their loved ones' gravesite was "disgraceful and unforgivable."

The Government had previously stated that there would be no changes to the site before June, the eighth anniversary of the disaster. However, Rayner's decision suggests that the government is now considering demolishing the tower.

The Grenfell Tower Inquiry, published in September, concluded that the disaster was the result of "decades of failure" by the government and the construction industry to address the dangers of flammable materials on high-rise buildings.

A Government spokesperson stated that Rayner's priority is to meet with and write to the bereaved, survivors, and the immediate community to inform them of her decision on the future of the Grenfell Tower. They emphasized that this is a deeply personal matter for all those affected and that Rayner is committed to keeping their voices at the heart of the decision-making process.