Afternoon summary
Here’s a wrap of developments on Saturday in the Grenfell Tower story:
- Prime minister Theresa May said support for families who needed help or basic information after the Grenfell Tower fire “was not good enough”. She has vowed to ensure all those affected can be found a home nearby within three weeks and that more staff would be available on the groud and on phone lines to provide help.
- 58 people are now missing, presumed dead, following the fire on Wednesday morning, Met Police commissioner Stuart Cundy said. That figure included the 30 people who have been confirmed dead, meaning the death toll has risen by 28.
- 19 people remain in hospital, of whom 10 are receiving critical care.
- 16 bodies are now in a mortuary; 15 were recovered from the building while one person died in hospital.
- The first victim has been formally identified as 23-year-old Mohammed Alhajali, who lived in Grenfell Tower.
- Victims met with prime minister Theresa May in a two-and-a-half-hour meeting at Number 10 but gave few details after leaving Downing Street.
- Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, said a city-wide local authority recovery operation in response to the Grenfall Tower fire was launched on Friday.
- Volunteers from across London and as far away as Birmingham poured into north Kensington on Saturday to offer help.
Theresa May also said she had ordered councils to complete urgent safety checks on all high-rise buildings.
If any further action is required, it will be taken. After something this traumatic, many people will be in need of not just financial support, but also counselling. NHS London will provide that support.I can also announce that NHS London will provide specialist long-term bereavement support for the families who have lost loved ones, and immediate psychological support is being provided by Cruise and Red Cross. If other issues become apparent – if the victims need more help and support – I will make sure it is forthcoming.”
She concluded: “The fire at Grenfell Tower was an unimaginable tragedy for the community, and for our country. My government will do whatever it takes to help those affected, get justice and keep our people safe.”
Family pays tribute to victim of #GrenfellTower fire https://t.co/YGcSAga7Bp pic.twitter.com/22nEBT40EL
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) June 17, 2017
Mohammad Alhajali’s family has paid tribute to him: “Mohammad was a very amazing and kind person. He gave love to everyone. He came to the UK because he had ambitions and aims for his life and for his family. Our whole family will miss Mohammad dearly and he will never be forgotten. To God we belong and to him we return.”
Mr Alhajali’s older brother Omar - who was with him in the flat - survived the fire after they were separated on the way out.
Almost 65,000 people have signed a petition to bring his parents to the UK so they can attend Mr Alhajali’s funeral.
The petition was set up by family friend Mirna Suleiman, 26, who had been ringing around hospitals for news of his fate before discovering that he had not made it out alive.
She chose to launch the campaign because, because as someone with Syrian family herself, she knew how difficult it was to obtain a visa for visits: “I’ve tried to apply for a visa for my nan in Syria - appealed and appealed and got no response.”
The percentage of rejected visa applications for visits from Syria has soared after the country’s devastating civil war began in 2011.
However, the Home Office has indicated that it will allow Mr Alhajali’s family to come to the UK on compassionate grounds.
The Change.org petition follows a crowdfunding effort to pay for Mr Alhajali’s funeral.
More from the prime minister’s statement:
“Victims have concerns their voice will not be heard, that their many questions about this tragedy will not be answered. That is why I ordered a public inquiry, with the costs for providing victims with legal representation met by government. The inquiry will be open and transparent. Government and ministers will cooperate fully. I anticipate the name of the judge will be announced within the next few days and that an open meeting will be held with residents to help shape the terms of reference. It has been decided today that the public inquiry will report back to me personally. As prime minister, I will be responsible for implementing its findings.”
Theresa May’s statement comes after she met earlier today with 15 victims of the Grenfell Tower tragedy, volunteers and community leaders.
I have heard the concerns and I have ordered immediate action across the board to help victims’ relatives and the survivors. People lost everything in the fire and were left in only the clothes they were wearing. I can confirm that a £5m emergency fund that I announced yesterday is now being distributed on the ground so people can buy clothes, food and other essentials. If more funding is required, it will be provided,” the prime minister said.
May has set a deadline of three weeks for all those affected to be found a home nearby and she has requested daily progress reports. “I have ordered that more staff be deployed across the area, wearing high visibility clothing, so they can easily be found, dispense advice and ensure the right support is provided. Phone lines will have more staff,” she added.
May admits support 'was not good enough'
Prime minister Theresa May has issued a statement admitting that “support on the ground for families who needed help or basic information in the initial hours after this appalling disaster was not good enough”.
Stuart Cundy’s statement in full can be read on the Met Police’s website:
#GrenfellTower fire investigation update: sadly 58 are missing and we assumed likely to have died. https://t.co/YA4KUKkCsT
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) June 17, 2017
At the club room on the Henry Dickens estate, a stone’s throw from the blackened remains of Grenfell Tower, the community have set up an emotional and therapy support centre.
It offers “art therapy for kids in the area, and counsellors for people who want a chat about what they saw that night”.
All the therapists are volunteering their time. The organisers asked for help getting word out to locals who might want to use their services.
There are concerns about the mental health not just of survivors but hundreds or perhaps thousands in the local community who witnessed the horror of that evening first hand, or woke up to find their friends and neighbours dead and the tower a smouldering ruin.
Many knew people in the tower, or live in similar towers themselves. NHS mental health services are already badly over-stretched, so as in other areas of the relief and rescue effort, a close-knit and resilient community are organising for themselves.
Family liaison officers are working with 52 families, and as soon as victims are identified, their loved ones will be told, Stuart Cundy said.
At this point in time we have 16 people who have been recovered to the mortuary. I absolutely understand the frustration of why figures haven’t been released earlier. The reason for that - at one point, in terms of our casualty bureau, there were 400 people who were reported missing from Grenfell Tower. Grenfell Tower itself is 120 flats. We have worked tirelessly over the last four days to truly understand those that we know were there on the night.
I understand - I really do understand - the frustration of so many about not knowing the scale of the tragedy that is unfolding behind us. I have said it before, you have my absolute assurance that as soon as I can possibly tell you something that I know to be accurate, I will tell you.”
Updated
More from the briefing given this afternoon by the Met police commander Stuart Cundy.
He said the search and recovery operation would take significant time.
“Both myself and colleagues from London Fire Brigade have already said it will take weeks. It may take longer than that. My commitment to families is that as soon as we can, we will locate and recover their loved ones. The reason we had to pause the search and recovery yesterday was for the safety of our staff. We do not want another fatality arising out of this tragedy.”
Updated
Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, has confirmed that a city-wide local authority recovery operation in response to the Grenfell Tower fire was launched on Friday.
The unexplained delay in launching the operation will infuriate those on the ground who feel that there has been a lack of local crisis management response to help deal with the aftermath of the inferno.
In a Facebook post following a meeting of the Grenfell Tower taskforce, Khan said he had raised several points, including the need for clearer direction on the ground for those affected; the urgency of rehousing efforts; concerns of other residents of high-rise blocks of flats; and the need for the forthcoming public inquiry into the disaster to be as broad, transparent and accessible as possible.
It is only in the penultimate paragraph of his message that he reveals that the “London-wide local authority recovery operation” was only implemented yesterday - two days after the fire. It will be led “by a number of local authority chief executives,” he said.
A spokeswoman for Khan told the Guardian separately that the recovery operation would be led by John Barradell, the chief executive of the City of London corporation, and would include the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, scotching rumours that the council, which has been subjected to intense criticism, had been removed from relief efforts.
The spokeswoman referred the Guardian to the City of London corporation press office for more information, but phone calls to its press contacts went unanswered.
Updated
A spokeswoman for the mayor of London has told the Guardian that the British Red Cross is now leading the volunteer effort on the ground around Grenfell Tower. A spokeswoman for the Red Cross, however, said she was not aware of the news.
The mayor’s spokeswoman said that the information had just come from today’s Grenfell Tower task force meeting, chaired by Theresa May, where it was also announced that John Barradell, the chief executive of the City of London corporation, would be taking charge of the overall recovery operation.
The spokeswoman also said she had been told that as far as coordination of relief efforts was concerned “the situation was improving” after days of criticism from volunteers that they had been working without any crisis response framework from the authorities.
But when we called the press office of the British Red Cross to confirm that they were taking the lead of the volunteer efforts, their spokeswoman was unable to do so. “That news hasn’t reached me yet,” she said.
Updated
Victims made clear their demands to the prime minister in a two-and-a-half-hour meeting at Number 10.
A man representing the group, who did not give his name, told reporters in Downing Street they would make a full statement “in the community”.
He said the group had spoken about their “demands and what we expect”.
Updated
Cundy also appealed to anyone who may have escaped from the building but has not yet come forward to make themselves known.
Of the 58 figure he gave, he said that 30 people were confirmed dead, and that 16 bodies had been recovered from the Tower and taken to a mortuary.
Updated
Cundy also addressed the concerns of members of the public who feel that the true death toll from the fire is being downplayed in an effort to dampen outrage.
“I understand, I really do understand the fears of so many about not knowing the scale of the tragedy that is unfolding behind us,” he said. “You have my absolute assurance that as soon as I can tell you something that I know to be accurate I will tell you. The investigation will be extensive, my intention is that we will help provide answers.”
Press Association reporter Sam Lister tweets:
Grenfell Tower victims, residents, volunteers and faith leaders have now been in No 10 for talks with Theresa May for more than two hours
— Sam Lister (@sam_lister_) June 17, 2017
Images and video of the scenes inside the burned out Grenfell Tower will be released tomorrow, Cundy said. But, he added: “We will not do that until we have contacted all the families we are supporting to let them know that’s our intention.”
Cundy pleaded with any people who escaped the tower but haven’t made themselves known to police to get in touch with the Met’s casualty bureau.
I don’t care the reason, I want to know and we all want to know that you are safe and well.
Updated
London mayor Sadiq Khan has tweeted:
Today I attended the Govt taskforce on #GrenfellTower. Here are the issues I raised on behalf of the local community https://t.co/locQh8MUv4 pic.twitter.com/TgLfIzlgjA
— Sadiq Khan (@SadiqKhan) June 17, 2017
The figure of 58 people who are now being classed as missing and presumed dead includes 16 bodies being held in the mortuary, Cundy said.
The first victim of the Grenfell Tower disaster has been formally identified as 23-year-old Mohammed Alhajali, the Met commander Stuart Cundy said.
Updated
58 'missing and presumed dead'
Fifty-eight people are missing and presumed dead in the Grenfell Tower disaster, commander Stuart Cundy of the Metropolitan police has said.
Updated
Aayla Moses speaks to Sky News about her fears following the fire at the London block of flats. She has been housed in temporary accommodation with her daughters. She says people are “walking around like zombies” after losing everything.
Updated
1,000 gather at Downing Street in protest against May
More than 1,000 people have gathered outside Downing Street to protest against Theresa May’s leadership.
There is a real undercurrent of antipathy towards the prime minister, with the crowd’s verdict of how she has dealt with the Grenfell Tower fire ranging from anger to disgust.
Almost unanimously the protesters believe she should resign immediately, the word “coward” being the most commonly used in reference to May.
Tilly Howarth, 28, from Brighton who works in the social housing sector, said: “She’s a coward and needs to leave. The people are waking up to the rightwing mainstream media and May just doesn’t get the public mood.”
Hundreds outside Downing St to protest against Theresa May. Kids and pensioners - practically everyone - using the word 'coward'. pic.twitter.com/Q2lEENf51u
— Mark Townsend (@TownsendMark) June 17, 2017
Updated
Kensington and Chelsea council and the tenant management organisation did not respond to more than 130 offers to put up displaced residents of Grenfell Tower and its neighbouring blocks, a volunteer who came to assist in the relief efforts has said.
Michal Nachmany, a researcher at the London School of Economics, told the Guardian that she spent hours on Wednesday compiling a list of people willing to provide a roof for families and individuals – with some even offering entire flats to the dispossessed.
She even offered to put up two families herself at her home in Chiswick. “My kids can fit into a single room,” she said.
Nachmany sent the list to senior workers at KCTMO and the local council. However, as yet she has not received any news that any of the offers have been matched to families or individuals in need. It comes amid reports that displaced residents are still sleeping on floors and have not been housed.
In an email to the Guardian, Nachmany, 40, said:
I know that the emails were received (verified by phone), but I don’t know if any action has been taken. Hearing that people are still sleeping on the floor, rather than at least spending the first few days with host families is heartbreaking and outrageous. For example, I offered to host six people. Never heard from anyone, and I doubt if any matchmaking was done between the local offers and the people in need. There is no lack of volunteers or of offers to help – just lack of coordination and organisation. Would be happy if you could support any efforts to resolve this terrible mess and make sure everyone has a proper bed tonight.
Updated
London fire brigade said tube services between Edgware Road and Hammersmith had been temporarily suspended because of the risk of debris falling from Grenfell Tower on to the tracks, rather than concerns about the structural integrity of the building.
Teams were working to secure the debris so the lines could be reopened as soon as possible, an LFB spokesman said.
Updated
Victims, residents, faith leaders and volunteers have arrived at Downing Street to meet prime minister Theresa May.
The group wore white wristbands in a show of solidarity.
Updated
Guardian columnist Owen Jones tweets a link to Theresa May’s much-derided interview with Emily Maitlis on Newsnight:
You'd think nothing would shock us in these times we live, but here I am, shocked by Theresa May's interview. https://t.co/Zhbt4Z5bpJ
— Owen Jones (@OwenJones84) June 17, 2017
A police press briefing slated to begin at 1pm has been delayed until 3.15pm. The reason for the delay was not given. Commander Stuart Cundy is due to speak close to the scene of the tragedy.
Updated
There are yet more complaints that relief efforts for the Grenfell Tower fire continue to be coordinated by volunteers who fear some of the mountains of donations could go to waste.
Food and other essential items have been brought to centres near the scene in west London, but anger has grown towards the council, with helpers criticising the apparent lack coordination, said PA.
Dozens of people attended a meeting of the Radical Housing Network, made up of different activist groups, in a community centre not far from the burnt-out tower block on Saturday morning to discuss their “next steps” in supporting displaced residents.
Moyra Samuels, a teacher who lives in the area, called on Kensington and Chelsea council to take control of the relief efforts. She told the meeting of about 70 people:
These are very uncoordinated [efforts] and my question is, ‘Where is the council?’ This is something that we cannot do without an enormous level of planning and coordination.
Stuff is going to deteriorate at these centres so they won’t even get to people. If the council is going to have to pay people to do that, that is what they are going to have to do. This is not going to go away. Grenfell is going to be with us for weeks and weeks.
Updated
Theresa May is to meet victims from the Grenfell Tower disaster at Downing Street, the Press Association reports.
The meeting on Saturday comes amid criticism after May did not meet any survivors in the immediate aftermath of the fire.
May arrived in Downing Street on Saturday to chair a government taskforce meeting on the disaster. She will meet victims, volunteers and community leaders afterwards, No 10 said. A Downing Street spokesman said:
The prime minister is this morning chairing a cross-government meeting to ensure everything possible is being done to support those affected by the Grenfell tragedy.
Afterwards, she will meet a group of residents, victims, volunteers and community leaders in No 10. The PM has sent her best wishes to HM Queen on the event of her birthday.
Updated
Tube services disrupted amid fears over building structure
Latimer Road tube station has been closed and some underground services in the area suspended because of renewed fears about the structural safety of Grenfell Tower, a police officer has said.
An officer at the site confirmed the station and the Hammersmith and City line had been shut following instructions from the London fire brigade (LFB), who are going through the charred skeleton of the building.
Transport for London confirmed that services between Edgware Road and Hammersmith had been suspended at the request of the fire service.
It was not clear what risk was believed to exist and LFB have not yet responded to requests for comment.
Updated
The Labour MP David Lammy has written to Cressida Dick, the Metropolitan police commissioner, to ask her to confirm that any criminal investigation will also look at “the actions of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, the Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation, Rydon and all contractors and sub-contractors involved in any aspect of refurbishment work at Grenfell Tower.”
Echoing the open letter to the prime minister published today by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, Lammy also called on Dick to confirm “as a matter of urgency” that the public inquiry into the disaster would not delay police work.
Many demonstrators calling for justice for the victims last night said they held senior figures in the council and TMO responsible for the disaster.
The public need to know that all companies, contractors and subcontractors involved in Greenfell Tower will be investigated by @metpoliceuk pic.twitter.com/08qBMZ9HMc
— David Lammy (@DavidLammy) June 17, 2017
Updated
It seems that authorities still have not got to grips with the relief and recovery operation around the Grenfell Tower. Since the very first day of the disaster, volunteers have said there has been a almost total lack of official crisis response management, with churches, mosques and community centres effectively coordinating the response between themselves.
Now Matthew Price, chief correspondent for Radio 4’s Today programme, has spoken to representatives of the Grenfell Tower residents’ association, who have told him that the official response, as far as they are concerned, is in “absolute chaos”.
I've just been told by residents association representatives for the #GrenfellTower of "absolute chaos" of "no organisation" from officials.
— Matthew Price (@BBCMatthewPrice) June 17, 2017
People are still sleeping on floors days after the fire and have not been housed.
— Matthew Price (@BBCMatthewPrice) June 17, 2017
They say the local shopping complex offered to house and pay for all affected indefinitely but were turned down by the council.
— Matthew Price (@BBCMatthewPrice) June 17, 2017
I am told senior residents association figures believe this is "symptomatic of why we had this disaster"
— Matthew Price (@BBCMatthewPrice) June 17, 2017
And they are going to tell the prime minster that they want Kensington and Chelsea council cut out of the response effort.
— Matthew Price (@BBCMatthewPrice) June 17, 2017
They do not believe they are capable of managing the response. Such is the total and utter lack of trust.
— Matthew Price (@BBCMatthewPrice) June 17, 2017
Updated
While the Grenfell Tower protest has been postponed, a demonstration will still go ahead this afternoon in Whitehall against the Conservative party’s plans to govern with the support of Northern Ireland’s Democratic Unionist Party.
The “No Coalition of Chaos with the DUP” demo, organised by Guardian columnist Owen Jones, is to begin at 2pm on Whitehall, central London. The protest’s Facebook event page says:
The Tories launched a general election to destroy Labour. They waged a campaign of fear against a campaign of hope. And they failed.
Now a disgraced Theresa May is trying to cling on to power with an alliance with the Democratic Unionist Party, the most extreme party in Parliament. They are anti-gay. They are anti-choice. They are climate change deniers. And they have a history of links to and sympathies for Northern Irish loyalist terrorism - after smearing Labour and Jeremy Corbyn over terrorism.
The Tories are themselves riddled with homophobes, opponents of women’s rights to choose, and climate change deniers. Now they’ll be strengthened with an alliance with the right-wing extremists of the DUP. This Coalition of Chaos and Hatred is a threat to all of us.
Take to the streets in London and all over Britain. Set up your own Facebook events for your towns and cities and I’ll share them. Let’s bring down Theresa May - and stop a Coalition of Chaos and Hatred taking power.
Around 3,600 people have indicated that they will attend, with a 3,700 saying they will attend another ‘Protest against Theresa May’ that has been called for the same time. Organisation of the two events has apparently been merged.
Updated
The Queen has observed a minute’s silence for the victims of the Grenfell Tower fire, as she marked her official birthday.
She and her husband, Prince Philip, stood in silence on the steps of Buckingham Palace during the trooping the colour ceremony.
The Queen said in her message: “Today is traditionally a day of celebration. This year, however, it is difficult to escape a very sombre national mood. In recent months, the country has witnessed a succession of terrible tragedies.
“As a nation, we continue to reflect and pray for all those who have been directly affected by these events.”
A minute's silence has taken place at Buckingham Palace as a mark of respect to the #GrenfellTower fire victims pic.twitter.com/oQwVzov73e
— Sky News (@SkyNews) June 17, 2017
Jeremy Corbyn has told Theresa May that the £5m pledged to help victims of the Grenfell Tower fire will not be enough and that she should reiterate her commitment to rehousing those who have lost their homes within the borough of Kensington and Chelsea.
In an open letter to the prime minister, the Labour leader also insisted that any public inquiry into the disaster must not delay any parallel legal actions, and demanded that legal funding be made available to support those involved.
He also called on the government to take “an attitude of generosity and compassion” over the cost of funerals, as well as visas for grieving relatives from outside the UK to attend them.
Corbyn has been praised locally for his response to the disaster after he visited the scene and spoke to victims, firefighters and volunteers. Theresa May drew criticism after apparently leaving the scene without meeting residents who had been made homeless or were searching for loved ones.
I have written to @Theresa_May regarding the decision to hold a full and independent public inquiry into the fire at #GrenfellTower. pic.twitter.com/ZUcr9IyxXZ
— Jeremy Corbyn (@jeremycorbyn) June 17, 2017
In his letter, Corbyn noted that the government had made it clear that displaced residents would be locally rehoused. But, he wrote:
It now appears that the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea may not be as committed to ensuring that all are re-housed locally. Your public re-commitment to this is imperative as part of an unequivocal, wider statement that the government will do all it can to provide timely practical support to those who have suffered so much. In this context, I note the announcement of the first government investment of £5million. Given the magnitude and scale of the crisis, this will clearly not be sufficient and I therefore await information regarding further funding plans.
On a related matter, I believe that an attitude of generosity and compassion in relation to the costs of funeral expenses and ensuring that it is possible for families living outside the UK to travel here to attend funerals, as well as participate in the inquiry, is also warranted in such a tragic situation. This is particularly the case given the circumstances of many of the Grenfell Tower residents, including the number of bereaved families who may be resident overseas and the costs of burial and cremation. As was also raised at yesterday’s brief discussion in the Grand Committee, I would expect that the Home Office guarantees the replacement, as a matter of urgent priority, of all documentation for those affected.
Updated
May to meet victims at Downing Street
The prime minister has arrived in Downing Street, where she is chairing the government task force on the disaster before meeting victims and volunteers in No 10 afterwards.
A Downing Street spokesman said: “The Prime Minister is this morning chairing a cross Government meeting to ensure everything possible is being done to support those affected by the Grenfell tragedy.
“Afterwards, she will meet a group of residents, victims, volunteers and community leaders in No10. The PM has sent her best wishes to HM Queen on the event of her birthday.”
Updated
Damian Green’s announcement this morning of a new taskforce that would be deployed to the scene appears to be unravelling. A spokeswoman for Green’s office said that in fact it appeared to be a conflation of two different measures first announced by No 10 yesterday.
She said the Grenfell Tower taskforce was a high-level group chaired by Theresa May, which included representatives of the Home Office, the Ministry of Justice, the Department for Work and Pensions, the Cabinet Office, the Department for Education, the Department of Health, the Treasury and the Department for Communities and Local Government.
The taskforce first met on Friday, when it agreed the package of measures for those affected that was later announced by May. The group was due to meet again today, the Cabinet Office spokeswoman said, although she could not say what was on the agenda.
There is also a team on the ground to provide help to people affected by the fire. However, the Cabinet Office spokeswoman could not say what the nature of this help would be, other than to provide hotline numbers for people worried about missing loved ones, housing and benefits. She said she would get back to the Guardian to explain what other means of help the team would provide.
She was clear that the team on the ground would not be responsible for coordinating relief efforts, despite continuing complaints from volunteers at relief centres that there has been no local crisis response framework.
Updated
A protest outside Kensington town hall at midday has been postponed, its organisers have said.
On the Facebook page for the demonstration, which would have followed another large protest last night, the Radical Housing Network wrote:
In light of the rapidly moving situation and community protests at the Town Hall and Grenfell Tower on evening of Friday 17th, Grenfell Action Group and Radical Housing Network are postponing the protest planned for Saturday 18th.
There will be more actions and protests, so we’re leaving this event open so we can update and respond to developments.
Just over 500 people had indicated that they would attend. However, numbers may have been much larger if details of the event were also being spread via instant messaging, as were details of last night’s town hall protest.
Updated
NHS issues casualty update
NHS England has issued an update on the injured still receiving hospital treatment after Wednesday’s fire.
They said there are now 19 patients in four London hospitals receiving care, of which 10 are critical.
More than 70 people had been taken to hospital after the disaster.
A GP whose surgery is less than 800 metres from Grenfell Tower has written a blog post for the British Medical Journal about his experiences on Wednesday. Ahmed Kazmi said several of his patients were residents of the tower. He wrote:
Wednesday was a tragic day for many and a very atypical day in our surgery. We spent it trying to compile a list of our patients who had been dispossessed. We made comfort calls to those affected [especially the vulnerable ones], offered walk-in appointments for those who found themselves without medication, and tried to offer some comfort. It is difficult though; what do you say to someone who has just lost their home and every possession they own? ‘I am so sorry for what has happened to you, here is your insulin prescription.’
Kazmi went down to help at the rescue and relief centres, but found them already “very well-staffed” with doctors and nurses who had volunteered.
I sat down on the floor and played with some children. I didn’t use my stethoscope those hours I was at the centre, but I still feel I was a doctor. I think that sometimes empathy and witnessing someone’s grief are as important a part of our role as procedures or prescribing.
Read more of Kazmi’s blog post on the British Medical Journal website.
Updated
May's first minister pledges new taskforce
Theresa May’s most senior minister has defended the way she has handled the disaster as he promised a government-led taskforce would be deployed to the scene today.
The first secretary of state, Damian Green – who was appointed in the reshuffle after the Tories’ disastrous election result – said some criticisms of May had been “terribly unfair”.
He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “She’s distraught by what happened as we all are. Absolutely, she has the same degree of sympathy and horror at these events that we all have.”
He said the taskforce would be made up of representatives of the council and central government and would be on the ground today “to answer questions”.
Green added that the government expected to appoint a chairman to lead the public inquiry “in days rather than weeks”.
“We want it to be able to have interim reports as well,” he added. “So this is not going to be one of those exercises of using a public inquiry to delay a response. Actually, we want the response to be as fast as possible.”
Green said the inquiry would look at whether sprinklers should be retrofitted to tower blocks and the government would “follow the recommendations of the public inquiry”.
Updated
Newspapers have been damning about Theresa May’s response to the tragedy at Grenfell Tower, according to these excerpts from this morning’s papers collected for us by the Press Association.
Felicity Morse in the i wrote that the fire – and the response to it – will be a “defining moment” for May, who visited the site for the second time on Friday.
She said: “Theresa May’s response to the Grenfell Tower fire has revealed new lows in her style of leadership. That long lens picture of her, removed from the community, will damn her. And her refusal to answer questions about why she didn’t meet residents condemned her further. If this is Mrs May’s best, at a time of tragedy, it’s just not good enough.”
Matthew Parris in the Times wrote of the PM being the victim of a “misjudgement” in the aftermath of the fire. He said: “Of course she felt for those poor victims, just as we all do. But she hates stunts and fears unscripted situations. What if she was heckled by angry residents?”
The leader column in the Telegraph spoke of the government being “drifting, rudderless”. It said: “All of this represents a huge challenge for any government in normal circumstances; but when it has no majority and no certainty of staying in office it is infinitely more problematic.
“Theresa May has announced a public inquiry but that could take months to set up; an interim report is essential to establish the basic facts so that people living in similar accommodation can sleep without the fear that the same could happen to them.
“Furthermore, a sense that someone is getting a grip on this disaster and all of its ramifications is a paramount necessity; and yet the local council’s response has been woeful while the government seems to be drifting, rudderless, stunned by the election result and overwhelmed by the magnitude of all the other tasks it faces, not least the Brexit talks that begin on Monday.”
The Mirror’s leader column said the survivors “have a right to be furious”.
“People who were catastrophically ignored – their warnings about the flats seemingly brushed aside – deserve to be heard and their incredibly reasonable requests met,” it said.
“The Queen and Prince William meeting families exposed the security lie behind excuses for Theresa May avoiding victims. And the PM’s subsequent hospital visit will do nothing to restore vanishing public confidence in her ability to lead.”
Updated
Morning summary
Good morning, if you’re just joining us, here’s everything you need to know four days on from the Grenfell Tower disaster:
- The official death toll stands at 30 but there are thought to be about 70 people still missing after the tower block blaze. Police said on Friday that the number of deaths was expected to rise as emergency services continue to search the building.
- The Queen has issued an unprecedented birthday message acknowledging the “very sombre national mood”. Speaking a day after a visiting people affected by the fire, she said the UK had “witnessed a succession of terrible tragedies” in recent weeks.
- The prime minister has continued to be dogged by claims that she has failed to recognise the public mood in the wake of the incident. In an interview with BBC’s Newsnight, Theresa May repeatedly declined to answer questions about whether her emotional response to Grenfell was lacking. She was heckled by protesters as she left a church near the scene in Kensington on Friday, and faced intense pressure for failing to visit victims.
- Demonstrations were held at Kensington town hall and in central London on Friday evening. Protesters demanded more information on missing families and friends and more help from the authorities. One group tried to force their way into the council building to confront officials.
- The government announced a series of measures in an attempt to regain control of the growing crisis, including a £5m discretionary fund to feed, clothe and house those made homeless by the fire. Work and pensions secretary David Gauke said he hoped the government can “build trust” with the victims of the fire by getting to the bottom of what happened.
- As investigators begin the painstaking work of establishing how the fire started and spread, experts called for a ban on combustable materials in high-rise buildings. Contractors told the Guardian that panels used to clad Grenfell Tower were the cheaper, more flammable version of two available options.
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Alexandra Topping has written a piece about victim Khadija Saye, an artist who was being exhibited at Venice Biennale and was set to show her work at an important gallery before she died.
Read the full story here:
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The former head of the fire brigade in Melbourne, Australia, has said he has fears the aluminium cladding on a building in the city’s Docklands is not safe.
The Melbourne apartment block caught fire in a similar manner to the Grenfell Tower in November 2014 and Peter Rau, who led the brigade at the time, has said it remains a fire risk.
Read the full story here:
David Gauke hopes the government can 'build trust'
Work and pensions secretary David Gauke said he hoped the government can “build trust” with the victims of the fire by getting to the bottom of what happened.
He told the BBC: “I hope if there is an issue on trust that by the work that we undertake that we demonstrate both a determination to help the victims, but also demonstrate our determination to get to the bottom of what really happened and to respond to the truth, and that’s how I hope we can build trust with the people of Grenfell Tower.”
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In a sign that more political pressure is mounting on Theresa May, the leader column in The Telegraph has spoken of the Government being “drifting, rudderless”.
It says: “All of this represents a huge challenge for any Government in normal circumstances; but when it has no majority and no certainty of staying in office it is infinitely more problematic.
“Theresa May has announced a public inquiry but that could take months to set up; an interim report is essential to establish the basic facts so that people living in similar accommodation can sleep without the fear that the same could happen to them.
“Furthermore, a sense that someone is getting a grip on this disaster and all of its ramifications is a paramount necessity; and yet the local council’s response has been woeful while the Government seems to be drifting, rudderless, stunned by the election result and overwhelmed by the magnitude of all the other tasks it faces, not least the Brexit talks that begin on Monday.”
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What the papers say
The front pages are dominated today by outrage over the Grenfell fire.
The Guardian’s front page story reads: “Grenfell fury spills onto streets”.
Saturday's GUARDIAN: Grenfell fury spills onto streets" #bbcpapers #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/hboLitZSgo
— Allie Hodgkins-Brown (@AllieHBNews) June 16, 2017
The Daily Mail declares: “Inferno: the anger erupts”.
Saturday's Daily MAIL: 'Inferno: The Anger Erupts" #bbcpapers #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/rFfggzpUQW
— Allie Hodgkins-Brown (@AllieHBNews) June 16, 2017
The Times focused on the prime minister’s security detail.
Saturday's TIMES: "May takes cover" #bbcpapers #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/DcpZ8dw2vA
— Allie Hodgkins-Brown (@AllieHBNews) June 16, 2017
The Daily Telegraph splashed on “hard-left activists” accused of exploiting the grief of Grenfell Tower families.
Saturday's Daily TELEGRAPH: "Militants hijack inferno protest" #bbcpapers #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/FVDa8Dpj2X
— Allie Hodgkins-Brown (@AllieHBNews) June 16, 2017
The Sun went with the headline “It was murder”.
Saturday's SUN: "It Was Murder" #bbcpapers #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/UB0uUtvYpW
— Allie Hodgkins-Brown (@AllieHBNews) June 16, 2017
The Mirror contrasted Theresa May’s visit to meet survivors with the Queen’s.
Saturday's Daily MIRROR: "A tale of two leaders" #bbcpapers #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/TdIckg129G
— Allie Hodgkins-Brown (@AllieHBNews) June 16, 2017
The Daily Express went with “Rage grows over tower blaze”.
Saturday's Daily EXPRESS: "Rage Grows Over Tower Blaze" #bbcpapers #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/6L8hGPSEHi
— Allie Hodgkins-Brown (@AllieHBNews) June 16, 2017
The FT splashed on Amazon buying Whole Foods, with a picture for the Grenfell story and the headline “Pain turns to anger as frustrated protesters rage over tower block blaze.”
Weekend FT: "Amazon swoops on Whole Foods" #bbcpapers #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/G1L43uPGQN
— Allie Hodgkins-Brown (@AllieHBNews) June 16, 2017
Firefighters tell of 'hellish' experience
A firefighter who climbed to the 15th floor as the Grenfell Tower was burned has spoken about how he feared the block would collapse like the World Trade Centre.
Leon Whitley, 34, was among the dozens to run towards danger when the blaze broke out at the 24-storey tower in west London.
Mr Whitley, a father-of-one, told The Sun: “It was reminiscent of the Twin Towers. Those things go through your mind while you’re in there.
“We all know how that building collapsed. I thought, ‘We might not make it out this one’.
“I usually walk into fires very cautious but not scared. That was the first time I was scared.”
He described the experience as “hellish” and added he still hears the screams from people trapped as flames tore through the building.
He told the paper: “It was crazy. The screams were coming from all directions. I don’t think I will ever forget them.
“The screams were horrifying because you knew everyone needed help but you couldn’t see them.”
Damian Magee, crew manager at Whitechapel Fire Station, told Sky News: “We were hoping it was a building site, a new-build that was going up, because we couldn’t believe what we were seeing and we were miles and miles away.
“We heard the children screaming, I can remember one kid’s voice that was sticking out, higher pitched than all the others. Screaming, screaming for help.
“They probably had some sort of hope when they saw us firefighters down there, for us to get in and help them.”
Donations reach £3m
The Press Association reports that more than £3m has been raised for victims of the fire.
Three appeals on the JustGiving site helped to raise the money for people affected by the fire.
The London Evening Standard launched an appeal on a dedicated website dispossessedfund.org.uk, raising nearly £1.5m by Saturday morning.
An appeal on JustGiving launched by Kensington Aldridge Academy teacher Hayley Yearwood has generated £1,206,880.
The Year 8 director of learning said: “As I watched the news at 5 o’clock in the morning, I just wanted to make sure residents affected were well cared for after the tragedy.
“Our school is in the heart of a fantastic community. The response so far has been overwhelming as money continues pouring in.”
Another, set up by Karolina Hanusova has raised £388,242.
The three appeals had more than 66,000 supporters between them, with supporters leaving messages including: “My heart goes out to all those that had to gone through this” and” “A terrible tragedy. My heart cries for all those lives lost”.
Protest postponed
The Grenfell Action Group and Radical Housing Network have postponed a protest planned to take place today at Kensington & Chelsea Town Hall. The event, which called on estate campaigners, community groups and tenants from across London to demand Justice4Grenfell, was due to take place at midday.
The Radical Housing Network said on Facebook it had been cancelled “in light of the rapidly moving situation and community protests at the Town Hall and Grenfell Tower on evening of Friday 17th” but promised “more actions and protests”.
In a statement put out by the palace, the Queen said the nation remained “resolute in the face of adversity”.
“United in our sadness, we are equally determined, without fear or favour, to support all those rebuilding lives so horribly affected by injury and loss.”
The statement comes after the Queen and Prince William visited people affected by the Grenfell Tower fire.
The Queen says UK is determined to 'rebuild lives'
The Queen has released a statement on her official birthday, saying the day is “traditionally a day of celebration” but “this year, however, it is difficult to escape a very sombre national mood.”
She said: “In recent months, the country has witnessed a succession of terrible tragedies. As a nation, we continue to reflect and pray for all those who have been directly affected by these events.
“During recent visits in Manchester and London, I have been profoundly struck by the immediate inclination of people throughout the country to offer comfort and support to those in desperate need.”
The monarch visited the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital following the Manchester Arena attack in which 22 people were killed following an Ariana Grande concert.
She added: “Put to the test, the United Kingdom has been resolute in the face of adversity. United in our sadness, we are equally determined, without fear or favour, to support all those rebuilding lives so horribly affected by injury and loss.”
A message from The Queen on Her Majesty's Official Birthday. https://t.co/vaKt5qj7IZ pic.twitter.com/Tv7t9aB3PV
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) June 17, 2017
Updated
Hello and welcome to the live blog, where we will be following the aftermath of the Grenfell Tower fire. Theresa May has been panned for her performance on Newsnight on Friday, during which she sidestepped questions over whether she had misread the public mood.
Pressed by Emily Maitlis on Newsnight about her personal response to the disaster, the prime minister reverted back to talking about government action in the days following the fire.
Our columnist Polly Toynbee says May’s initial refusal to meet survivors of the tragedy showed that her political career was finished as Grenfell became a “tomb” for the austerity of the Cameron-Osborne-May era.
