The communities and local government secretary, Sajid Javid, has said that the Grenfell Tower tragedy has “shaken his comprehension” of what it meant to be a cabinet minister.
In a letter to MPs in which he confirmed that the number of tower blocks with cladding similar to Grenfell Tower has risen to 11, Javid said: “As a minister, I have always been prepared to make tough decisions. I understood the pressures that come with public life but this disaster has shaken my comprehension of what it means to be in office.
“I have met some of the victims of Grenfell, I have witnessed for myself the grief and anger of those who have lost so much – more than just their possessions but also their loved ones, their security and their memories.
“This government will do everything possible not just to replace houses and provide immediate relief, but to seek justice for those people who have been failed. This tragedy should weigh on the consciousness of every person tasked with making a decision so this can never happen again.”
