Grenfell

 

An Unquenchable Blaze

Imagine waking at night, surrounded by flames, the air scalding your lungs. Grenfell Tower's residents experienced this horror on June 14, 2017, when the 24-story block was engulfed in fire, causing 72 deaths. The fire began with a malfunctioning fridge-freezer but spread due to the building's combustible cladding, revealing systemic safety failures in UK construction and government oversight.

Construction Failings and Cladding

Originally, fireproof cladding was planned for Grenfell's refurbishment. However, the material was downgraded to save money. Emails revealed that the cheaper, less safe cladding was chosen despite warnings. The decision, which saved £293,368, directly led to the rapid spread of fire. The cladding served more for aesthetic purposes, making the building blend in with the affluent neighbourhood of Kensington rather than improving its safety. One inquiry expert aptly described it as "a time bomb waiting to go off."

People's Disenfranchisement

The Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation (KCTMO), responsible for managing Grenfell, repeatedly ignored safety concerns raised by residents. Residents had formed grassroots resistance against the faceless body managing their lives, but their warnings fell on deaf ears. The KCTMO, motivated by cost-cutting and profits, neglected the safety of Grenfell’s predominantly working-class residents.

Systemic Inequality and Class Divide

Grenfell Tower, located in one of London’s wealthiest boroughs, was an eyesore to its rich neighbours. While properties in the area were worth millions, Grenfell’s residents, many of whom were working-class and from immigrant backgrounds, lived in unsafe conditions. The fire has since become a powerful symbol of the deep inequalities that plague London and the UK more broadly. Survivors testified that the fire would likely not have occurred in a building housing wealthier residents, where safety standards would have been higher.

Edward Daffarn, a Grenfell resident and campaigner, stated: “We were treated as second-class citizens because of our postcode and because we were poor.” Housing in the UK is increasingly seen as a commodity rather than as satisfying a basic human need, and Grenfell epitomises the dangers of such a system. Social housing has been underfunded and neglected for decades, often outsourced to private contractors whose primary concern is profit, not safety.

Government Oversight and Accountability

The government's role in the tragedy cannot be overlooked. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 weakened fire safety regulations in an effort to reduce "red tape." Responsibility for fire risk assessments was transferred to building owners and landlords, relying on private contractors under constant pressure to cut costs.

Eric Pickles, the former Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government from 2010 to 2015, played a key role in these deregulations. During his tenure, fire safety recommendations following the 2009 Lakanal House fire were largely ignored. More recently, Pickles faced backlash for his dismissive comments during the Grenfell inquiry, further highlighting the indifference toward the victims.

Corporate Negligence

The companies involved in Grenfell’s refurbishment, including Arconic, Celotex, and Rydon, prioritized profit over people’s lives. Arconic continued to supply flammable cladding despite being aware of its fire risks, as internal documents revealed. The inquiry also exposed how contractors like Rydon made decisions based on cost, often sidelining fire safety. One Rydon project manager testified that he knew about the fire risks but felt it wasn’t his role to question the overall design.

Survivor and Campaigner Testimonies

Survivors and bereaved families, represented by groups like Grenfell United, have consistently criticised the lack of accountability from authorities. They argue that Grenfell happened because the people in power saw the residents as expenses, not individuals. As survivor Edward Daffarn stated during the inquiry: “No one has been held to account for what happened at Grenfell. We don’t just want words; we want to see real change.”

Grenfell Action Group (GAG) was instrumental in raising concerns before the fire, repeatedly warning that a disaster was inevitable. Their warnings, however, were ignored. In a blog post written months before the fire, GAG chillingly predicted, “only a catastrophic event will expose the ineptitude and incompetence of our landlord.”

The Inquiry and Its Findings

The public inquiry, chaired by Sir Martin Moore-Bick, was divided into two phases. Phase one, released in 2019, focused on how the fire started and the response from emergency services. Firefighter Michael Dowden admitted in his testimony that, with hindsight, he would have done things differently.

Phase two, published on 4 September, is investigated the broader circumstances, including the decisions made during Grenfell’s refurbishment. Testimonies have revealed that fire safety was often sidelined in favour of aesthetics and cost efficiency. Architects and contractors ignored basic safety practices, contributing to the disaster. As lawyer for the survivors Stephanie Barwise KC noted, there were repeated opportunities to prevent the fire, but none were taken.

The inquiry has also shone a light on the inequality and indifference shown towards social housing tenants and marginalised communities. Survivors and campaigners continue to push for accountability and systemic reform. However, as of 2024, many feel that this remains elusive.

Housing as a Commodity

A major critique emerging from the Grenfell tragedy is how neoliberal capitalism treats housing as a commodity rather than a basic human right. Under this system, housing policy has shifted towards privatization, with little regard for the safety of those living in social housing. Dr. Lee Elliot Major, a social mobility expert, noted: “Grenfell exemplifies how housing policy in the UK, driven by neoliberal economics, has led to a profit-driven culture where the most vulnerable are treated as afterthoughts.”

The Role of Capitalism

The decisions leading to the Grenfell disaster are a reflection of capitalism’s systemic failures. The drive for profit at all costs, the deregulation of safety standards, and the neglect of social housing tenants are all inherent features of this economic system. As a result, the lives of working-class people are deemed expendable in the pursuit of wealth.

In 2017 David Lammy (now the Foreign Secretary), summed up the situation: “This is what happens when you deregulate and allow market forces to dictate safety in housing. Profit comes first, people come second.”

Grenfell is not just a story of corporate and governmental negligence; it is a symbol of deep-seated inequality. The fire exposed the glaring class divides in London, where working-class residents of social housing are treated as expendable. Survivors and campaigners remain determined to hold those responsible accountable and to ensure that no other community suffers the same fate.

‘Justice for Grenfell’ is not merely about criminal charges or compensation—it is about systemic change, ending capitalism with its class inequality and profit priority.