Latest news with #Grenfell
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
Man who escaped Grenfell Tower fire makes plea over ongoing 'national scandal'
Housing Secretary Angela Rayner has been warned that righting the wrongs of the 2017 tragedy cannot be 'ignored' as she faces worrying question marks over her department's budget Fixing the 'national scandal' of people living in dangerous homes like Grenfell Tower must be a priority amid tough spending decisions, campaigners have demanded. Housing Secretary Angela Rayner has been warned that righting the wrongs of the 2017 tragedy cannot be 'ignored' as she faces worrying question marks over her department's budget. It comes ahead of next week's major Spending Review (SR), where government department budgets will be set out for future years. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), which has an unprotected budget unlike the NHS or defence spending, is still yet to reach a settlement in SR negotiations. Ms Rayner is said to be battling for a bigger settlement amid unhappiness over funding for affordable housing. Grenfell United campaigner Edward Daffarn, who escaped from his 16th floor flat during the blaze, said it was 'a national scandal' that thousands of families are still trapped in homes covered in dangerous cladding ahead of the eighth anniversary of the west London blaze later this month. "The fact that eight years on, people are still living in unsafe buildings is unconscionable," he said. In a message to ministers, Mr Daffarn said: 'Cost cutting or budget constraints can never become a factor when life safety is at stake. We all understand the constraints that the government is facing at the moment. 'But the bottom line of it needs to be that the health and safety, the well-being of citizens, needs to be a priority. It's not something that can be ignored.' Joe Delaney, a campaigner with Justice4Grenfell, highlighted that money had been found for defence spending, adding: 'We can always find money.' He said ministers were getting 'bogged down in the minutiae of how much is going in this particular budget line over here, but they're not dealing with the bigger problems'. 'Does anyone feel any safer in their homes than they were then? Have things got better, or have they got worse? And I hate to say it, and I'm not normally a pessimist, but I don't think anything has got much better. 'The only thing that's increased in the past eight years is frustration, disappointment and disengagement with the political process.' It comes after Richard Blakeway, the housing ombudsman for England, last week said it was 'neither fanciful nor alarmist' to suggest fury over housing conditions could become 'social disquiet'. He said the 'shock of Grenfell Tower and Awaab Ishak's death resonate still'. Joe Powell, the Labour MP for Kensington and Bayswater, home to the Grenfell Tower, said there are 'some really important' decisions that the Government could announce to help the cladding crisis. 'Remediation has been far too slow. It's completely outrageous that almost eight years after Grenfell, there are hundreds of thousands of people around the country going to bed in properties which have unsafe cladding and fire defects,' he said. 'What I'm hoping is that the Spending Review will give the department the ammunition to speed up that remediation process." He said the affordable homes programme needed to get a 'big flag of money'. A £2billion downpayment was announced in March for the next year of the programme but all eyes will be on what the SR sets out for future years. Elsewhere Mr Powell called for more social landlords to have access to the Building Safety Fund (BSF). It would mean housing associations could use the funding, which has already been committed, to speed up the remediation of dangerous buildings. Currently social landlords can only apply to the BSF and the Cladding Safety Scheme where the cost of remediating a building would threaten their financial viability, or to cover costs passed onto leaseholders and shared owners. Mr Powell also said the Government must fully fund personalised emergency evacuation plans for disabled people as a matter of 'priority'. The MP also reiterated calls from the Commons' Housing Committee, of which Mr Powell is a member, for an independent body to be introduced to oversee the Government's response to public inquiries. The committee has called for a national oversight mechanism to be included in the upcoming Hillsborough Bill to hold ministers to account on how they implement change after a major disaster, such as the Grenfell fire. A Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesman said: 'This government has been taking tough and decisive action after years of dither and delay, going further than ever before to speed up the unacceptably slow pace of remediation and provide an end in sight for residents who have suffered for too long. 'Through our Remediation Action Plan, we've already allocated significant funding, including £5.1billion to address dangerous cladding on medium and high-rise buildings in England. 'As we approach the eighth anniversary since the Grenfell Tower fire, our thoughts remain with the community, families and survivors and we are working at pace to make sure this tragedy never happens again.'
The Sun
3 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
‘Meghan Meghan is too vacuous. Why can't she promote women in a realistic way?' slams expert
Lydia Major Published: Invalid Date, MEGHAN Markle has thrown herself into her jam-making business venture and Netflix cooking show this year. However, royal experts have blasted the Duchess of Sussex, 43, for focusing on 'vacuous' projects following ditching royal life and charity work. 5 5 Speaking on The Sun's Royal Exclusive show, broadcaster Esther Krakue and Royal Reporter Bronte Coy spoke about Meghan's recent ventures. Bronte claimed: '[She's a] professional hot girl. 'She's a content creator slash influencer now, I would say. 'And there's nothing wrong with those things. 'But the influencer part, she's selling the stuff on Instagram.' Esther added of the former Suits actress: 'I mean, I find it strange that she didn't quite lean into the things that she has professional credits for, like she didn't do some theatre charity or things? 'I just wish she did things that are less vacuous.' She added that she'd like to see Meghan focus on topics such as theatre, art, and also 'promoting women in a realistic way, not this kind of very glossy sheen.' In the past, Meghan has been an advocate for gender equality and women's empowerment, doing a 2015 speech on International Women's Day at the UN. As a working royal, Prince Harry's wife supported numerous women-focused charities, including Smart Works, a UK charity helping unemployed women get back to work, and bringing out a cook book with Hubb Community Kitchen, following the tragic Grenfell Fire in London. Meghan's idea of parenting was a no-go from the beginning, Harry's much more hard-lined Speaking of Meghan's eight-part podcast, Confessions of Female Founder, which featured successful female entrepreneurs and their business and family journeys, Esther claimed many of the women weren't relatable. The London-based broadcaster and columnist explained: 'All these rich women with very rich husbands that had very little to lose, except a couple of her guests. 'Just be real, just be honest and do something that's a bit more authentic, I think.' Helping hand Bronte agreed, sharing how the average mum can't relate to an A-lister speaking about the 'struggles' of home life, while employing a nanny. She added: 'I have a son, and when I hear people from positions of great privilege where they can afford nannies and a lot of help go on and on and on about the working mum thing. 'Yes, it's time away from your kid, I definitely understand that aspect. 'But it's not the same as the working mum idea that, you know, a lot of the rest of the world has to deal with. 'You do have help. And also you are at home a lot. I don't know. I find that a little bit grating.' I find it strange that she didn't quite lean into the things that she has professional credits for, like she didn't do some theatre charity or things. I just wish she did things that are less vacuous Esther Craikoobroadcaster However, Esther stressed: 'I don't even want to feel like we're beating down on everything she does. 'I genuinely wish her all the success, but I feel sad that she feels the need to be this thing that she's clearly not.' The Duchess of Sussex previously shared how she's relied on a nanny for five years to help her raise Prince Archie, five, and Princess Lilibet, three. The mum-of-two opened up on her close pal's podcast, The Jamie Kern Lima Show. 5 5 Meghan told how jam-packed her morning routine is - before the nanny drops her kids to school and she "jumps into meetings". This year Meghan has been busy with the release of her latest Netflix series With Love, Meghan, in which she hosted Hollywood pals. Shortly after came the roll out of her brand As Ever, despite the company facing a series of setbacks. The mum-of-two then dropped Confessions Of A Female Founder, which has just finished its first season. The Duchess has also been promoting her ShopMy page, where she shares links to her wardrobe and pockets a commission. THE Duchess of Sussex has kept busy since stepping down as a senior working royal in 2020 and relocating to California. Here are some of her business ventures... Archewell Foundation – A nonprofit supporting charitable initiatives. Netflix Deal – Producing content like Harry & Meghan and With Love, Meghan. Archetypes Podcast – Former Spotify show on female stereotypes. Clevr Blends – Investment in a women-owned wellness latte brand. Cesta Collective – Minority stake in a handbag brand supporting Rwandan artisans. As Ever – Previously known as American Riviera Orchard lifestyle brand selling jam. ShopMy Page – Online store featuring her curated fashion and beauty items. New Podcast – Confessions of a Female Founder focusing on entrepreneurship.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Communities gather to honor 2,000 fallen veterans in Chambersburg
CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. (WHTM) — Dozens of community members gathered to honor the 2,000 veterans resting at the Parklawn Memorial Gardens in Chambersburg on Memorial Day. Over the past two weeks, volunteers placed flags and flowers on the graves of these military members. But today, the keynote speech from retired Air Force Staff Sergeant John Grenfell emphasized that the holiday is about forgetting the problems of the present and cherishing the contributions of the past. 'I think it's very important not to forget the sacrifices that our fellow countrymen have given to this country to keep this way of life that we are used to and to ensure that it endures,' said Grenfell. The speech was followed by a veteran-led honor guard. The event also offered free hot dogs and ice cream for all in attendance. A similar service was held at the Rolling Green Cemetery in Camp Hill. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Hackney shifts fire door replacement target
A London borough has shifted its target to replace thousands of front doors with fire-resistant models after changes to building safety regulations. In 2018, Hackney Council said it would install 17,000 new doors across its housing portfolio that could withstand fire for 30 minutes. But after new laws introduced in 2022 said only high-rise blocks standing at seven storeys or higher needed to have their doors replaced, the council changed its target. The programme to replace fire doors for thousands of Hackney households came in the wake of the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017. The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) asked the council for an update on the project's progress after the local authority awarded a £1.2m contract for a similar programme to replace fire doors in 10 Hackney schools. A council spokesperson said that, so far, 3,398 new doors had been installed across the borough, at a cost of £15.5m. They said the new regulations only covered 5,973 doors in the 137 council blocks which had been registered with the Building Safety Regulator and were affected by updated fire safety rules. The regulatory changes had "caused supply challenges across the whole sector", the spokesperson added. Hackney Council had originally estimated it would cost roughly £1,500 to replace a single fire door, but added that had risen to £4,000 due to "changes in the construction industry and material price inflation". "The cost of the scheme has also increased due to the fee charged by the regulator for each block," the spokesperson said. The council now anticipates it will take "around three years" to change the remaining doors. Hackney temporary housing deaths cause concern Grenfell memorial construction could start in 2026 Hundreds suffer heating issues in east London In 2023, the LDRS reported that the council expected the installation of roughly 6,000 doors in its "highest-risk" blocks would take a year. At that time, the council told residents that fire safety tests put the doors through extreme temperatures "unlikely to unfold in real life". In March 2023, the Metropolitan Police revealed that the fire doors installed as front doors of the flats inside Grenfell Tower, manufactured by Manse Masterdor, had failed under test conditions in 15 minutes, when they were supposed to act as a barrier for 30 minutes. Seventy-two people died in the fire in Grenfell Tower in west London in June 2017. Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to Hackney Council
BBC News
26-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Preston city centre tower block demolitions to start
Demolition work on three tower blocks on the outskirts of Preston city centre is due to start on Tuesday, with the gradual demolition expected to take 15 flats, at the junction of Avenham Lane and Manchester Road, in Avenham, were initially due to be brought down in phases from March last year. Plans to knock down Richmond House, Carlisle House and Lincoln House first emerged three years ago, after housing association Onward Homes concluded the properties could not be brought up to current 11-storey blocks - built back in the 1960s - had to have their cladding removed in the wake of the fatal Grenfell Tower fire in London in 2017. Road closures The 180 households within the trio of Avenham towers were consulted on the future of their homes in of Onward's plans to build a more modern development on the cleared site will be revealed when a planning application is submitted – expected to be later this year. However, it has previously been acknowledged that not all past residents will be guaranteed one of the new long-term road closures are planned during the demolition work, which will be done from the top floors downwards, and also includes the levelling of an Onward neighbourhood office, the Local Democracy Reporting Service surrounding streets may need to be shut temporarily on occasions, such as when cranes are being moved into place. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
