Keir Starmer, the Labour Prime Minister, tendered an apology to the families of Grenfell victims in the parliament on behalf of the British state. His former opponent and ex-Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, would undoubtedly empathise with his sentiments, having been in a similar position merely four months prior. Sunak had then utilised his parliamentary platform to express his remorse to the victims in the wake of the UK’s infected blood inquiry report publication, referring to it as a “day of shame”. This came after his address to postmasters afflicted by the ongoing Horizon IT scandal.
It has become a common sight for UK citizens to observe their leaders don emotional penitence, expressing both regret and humiliation for various issues. This is causing a gradual habituation among the populace. The publication of the Grenfell enquiry report revealed the truth, but it is only through legal proceedings that true justice will be served.
The disaster at Grenfell, resulting in the unnecessary loss of 72 lives, is an unprecedented event of such foul and tragic magnitude that it sets a new grim benchmark for governmental inadequacy. No apology would seem sufficient to atone for such a catastrophe.
During his poignant address, Starmer briefly acknowledged the families of the victims present in the public gallery, admitting that sometimes “words can lose their meaning” in such grave circumstances. The prime minister continued on to express deep regret for the state’s failure to protect their citizens – their very duty to serve – and tendered an apology to each individual affected. Starmer further emphasized the crucial difference between truth – which was provided by the report – and justice, to be achieved through proper legal proceedings.
Different families expressed their desires for manslaughter accusations to be brought against corporations and individuals minutes after a report was released. This sentiment was echoed by family of approximately 34 victims, all hailing from ethnic minority backgrounds, as they convened in a hotel to share with journalists their view that the investigation was merely a stalling tactic for legal proceedings.
The investigative report was nothing more than an “assortment of words,” according to Maria Jafani, a woman who survived the fire. Her father, Ali Yawar Jafani, was not as fortunate. Maria, visibly upset, recalled how she had brought the report home to her mother and wondered what they could do with it.
She emphatically declared her determination to keep battling until there were legal proceedings in place: she expressed her desire for her deceased father to know that she fought for him and his memory.
An ongoing investigation by London’s Metropolitan police involves 19 corporations and 58 individuals connected to the Grenfell catastrophe. However, any court proceedings are not expected until at least 2027.
Kingspan, an Irish business whose products constituted 5 percent of the swiftly-burning insulation, affirmed that the report did not hold them responsible for the fire at Grenfell. Regardless, the company faced scathing criticism from the report for creating a “dishonest market” for its K15 insulation product. The business did “not withdraw the product from the market, even in light of its own apprehension regarding its fire performance”.
It is worth mentioning that in the business world, perspectives are measured differently. In the half-hour following the report’s publication, Kingspan’s stock value increased by 3.5 per cent. This could be interpreted as an indicator of whether or not investors believe the company will face further ramifications.