Editorial 05 September 2024.
Thursday’s front pages are dominated by the final report from the Grenfell fire inquiry which lays out the multiple failures that led to the 2017 tragedy.
The report of the six-year public inquiry found that the Grenfell Tower fire that killed 72 people in 20217 was the result of a chain of failures by governments, “dishonest” companies and a lack of strategy by the fire service, the final report of the six-year public inquiry has concluded.
Elsewhere, there’s a little showbiz and sports news on the front pages and a handful of other domestic stories.
The back pages are dominated by the England National team – who face Ireland at the weekend, the latest happenings from the Premier League and Jack Draper sailing through to the last-4 of the US Open.
READ THE GRENFELL TOWER REPORT KEY FINDINGS
Among the key findings of the report were:
- How building safety is managed in England and Wales is “seriously defective”
- “Systematic dishonesty” by the manufacturers of cladding and insulation
- US firm Arconic, manufacturer of the Reynobond 55 cladding which experts at the inquiry said was “by far the largest contributor” to the fire, deliberately concealed the true extent of the danger of using its product
- Manufacturers made “false and misleading claims” over the safety and suitability of insulation to the company which installed it on Grenfell
- Failures in London Fire Brigade’s training and a lack of a strategy to evacuate the building
- Successive governments missed opportunities to act
- The local council and the Tenant Management Organisation had a “persistent indifference to fire safety, particularly the safety of vulnerable people”
Grenfell Tower victims failed by everyone – ‘incompetence, dishonesty and greed’
The Guardian says the fire – that killed 72 people – was caused “by dishonesty and greed” – a direct quote from the finding. The paper features pictures of the victims of the fire.
Police are under pressure to speed up their criminal investigation but the scale of the inquiry means no charges will be announced until late 2026 at the earliest, the paper adds.
The Metro says that the report found all 72 deaths were avoidable and warning signs had been ignored throughout a “26-year countdown to disaster.”
The Times leads on calls from bereaved families for prosecutors to bring charges over the failings. The paper says inquiry chair Sir Martin Moore-Bick spoke of “unscrupulous” building companies who had misled the market and put combustible cladding on Grenfell despite being aware of the risks.
The paper says he found multiple parties contributed to the disaster, “in most cases through incompetence but in some cases through dishonesty and greed”.
The Daily Express calls the Grenfell Tower a “death trap” and features a large image of the building on fire. The paper says the 7-year inquiry uncovered wrongdoing, failures and negligence and says the prime minister apologised on behalf of the British state in the House of Commons yesterday.
The FT says the warnings about the cladding were ignored and that manufacturers “manipulated” testing. It notes the report says the fire was the result of “decades of failure” by the construction industry as well as many governments who failed to properly regulate it.
The Daily Mirror calls for justice and says there are still more than 4,600 residential buildings in England with unsafe cladding.
The i newspaper says “everyone failed them.” Its front page key points highlight the report saying all 72 deaths were avoidable.
The Daily Mail asks “Will they ever get justice?” and notes the pressure to speed up criminal charges. Those waiting to get justice will have been waiting a decade by the time any prosecutions are brought, it adds.
The Daily Telegraph reports the report has failed to satisfy anyone and has left families waiting longer for justice – if they ever get it.
The Sun calls for those responsible for the fire to be put “in the dock.”
A few other domestic stories feature on the front pages.
The Telegraph’s focus is on the government’s crackdown on water companies dumping raw sewage in UK rivers and seas. The paper says ministers believe that by making water companies pay for enforcement action they can fund a major expansion of the Environment Agency’s power.
Several papers report on Oasis after the band hit out against the practice known as “dynamic pricing”, which allows the price of tickets to rise in response to demand.
The Mirror says “Definitely not me,” saying Oasis left all decisions to management. The Sun says “Some might replay” and notes that the band have pledged a fairer system when the tickets for their newest shows go on sale.