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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Politics
Samuel Osborne

Grenfell Tower: Theresa May booed and told to 'stand down' by residents after visiting scene of disaster

Footage has emerged of Theresa May being booed after she visited victims of the Grenfell Tower tragedy

The Prime Minister was met by shouts of "stand down" and "resign" as she left the meeting on Wednesday night.

She appears to remain silent as she walks with security to her waiting car.

The footage surfaced after Downing Street admitted hundreds of tower blocks in England have similar cladding to that used in Grenfell Tower.

So far tests found combustible cladding has been found on at least three tower blocks across the UK, the Government said. 

But English councils have estimated that 600 high-rise buildings used cladding similar to Grenfell Tower in west London, where at least 78 people died last week after the building was engulfed in flames.

Councils were told to provide the Government with details of the cladding used on high-rises by Monday and three samples were found to be combustible after tests on a "small number" of specimens.

Flammable panelling on the outside of Grenfell Tower is suspected to have aided the rapid spread of last week's blaze, trapping dozens inside.

Speaking in the Commons earlier, the Prime Minister, Theresa May, said local authorities and fire services concerned are taking "all possible steps" to ensure the buildings are safe and residents have been informed. 

She said the Government had arranged to test cladding on all relevant tower blocks as a precaution.

Harriet Harman, a Labour MP, described the revelation as "chilling".

Jeremy Corbyn said "every single one" of the Grenfell deaths could have been avoided and called for "urgent answers".

The Labour leader said residents were "let down both in the immediate aftermath and so cruelly beforehand".

 

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