Stormzy calls for answers in response to Grenfell Tower fire

Stormzy called for answers in response to the Grenfell Tower fire during a virtual memorial service held by pressure group Grenfell United on the three-year anniversary of the tragedy.

Sunday marked three years since a kitchen fire on the fourth floor in the high-rise covered in dangerous cladding turned into the most deadly domestic blaze since the Second World War, claiming 72 lives.

In a powerful video message, the grime icon, 26, branded the reaction to the disaster as ‘the greatest injustice I’ve ever seen’ and urged others to ‘never ever forget about Grenfell’.

‘This is the greatest injustice I’ve ever seen’: Stormzy called for answers in response to Grenfell Tower fire on the three-year anniversary of the tragedy on Sunday

Stormzy, real name Michael Ebenazer Kwadjo Omari Owuo Jr., vowed to ‘speak from his heart to stand in solidarity’ with the survivors and bereaved from the fire. 

The MC – who recently pledged £10 million to organisations fighting racial inequality in the UK over the next 10 years – said: ‘Yo what’s going on people, it’s Stormzy here. Today marks the third anniversary of the Grenfell Tower fire. 

‘I said I was just going to talk from my heart instead of preparing this. To all the people of Grenfell, we’re still mourning with you. Let’s use today to stand in solidarity.’

The media personality went on to recognise the Grenfell community’s ability to ‘turn a dark tragedy into triumph’.

Bold: During a virtual memorial service held by pressure group Grenfell United, the grime icon, 26, branded the reaction of the disaster as 'the greatest injustice I've ever seen'

Bold: During a virtual memorial service held by pressure group Grenfell United, the grime icon, 26, branded the reaction of the disaster as ‘the greatest injustice I’ve ever seen’

Powerful: Stormzy, real name Michael Ebenazer Kwadjo Omari Owuo Jr., vowed to 'speak from his heart to stand in solidarity' with the survivors and bereaved from the fire

Powerful: Stormzy, real name Michael Ebenazer Kwadjo Omari Owuo Jr., vowed to ‘speak from his heart to stand in solidarity’ with the survivors and bereaved from the fire

The musician explained: ‘When the powers that be have turned their back on you, remember we’re here. 

‘Unless you had someone in the fire that you directly lost, our lives have moved on, but that is still a dark reality for these people. 

‘I’m so upset that this pandemic is the reason we can’t be together, but what I’ve seen for myself is that I’ve watched the community take a dark tragedy and turn it into triumph. 

‘Whenever I’m around the Grenfell lot, I’m filled with so much love and joy. This is one of the remarkable and amazing things I’ve ever seen. I love you guys, never forget what happened.’ 

Making a statement: The award-winning artist highlighted the authorities response to Grenfell, describing the catastrophe as a 'constant stain on British society'

Making a statement: The award-winning artist highlighted the authorities response to Grenfell, describing the catastrophe as a ‘constant stain on British society’

'You lot inspire me as you've remained so resilient': The media personality went on to recognise the Grenfell community's ability to 'turn a dark tragedy into triumph'

‘You lot inspire me as you’ve remained so resilient’: The media personality went on to recognise the Grenfell community’s ability to ‘turn a dark tragedy into triumph’

‘You lot inspire me as you’ve remained so resilient in the face of the most darkest tragedy that people should not experience. I don’t know how we have the mental, emotional threshold for that, you’re legendary. I’m always here, God bless.’

Moments later, the award-winning artist reappeared to highlight the authorities response to Grenfell, describing the catastrophe as a ‘constant stain on British society’.

The Gang Signs & Prayer star said: ‘It’s our duty to never ever forget about Grenfell, and that we constantly remind ourselves, our people and the world about that day. 

‘I still can’t fathom how that many lives were lost and there is no justice, no one behind bars due to this. 

On a mission: The Vossi Bop star has frequently used his platform to criticise the aftermath of the Grenfell Tower fire

On a mission: The Vossi Bop star has frequently used his platform to criticise the aftermath of the Grenfell Tower fire

‘We had a community who were screaming out, taking all the proper routes, crying to the councils saying that the cladding was unsafe, and they were constantly denied and ignored. 

‘What that left us with is the greatest tragedy we’ve seen, which I’ll also say is the greatest injustice I’ve ever seen. 

‘The council, authorities and Governments ended up destroying lives. Let this be a constant stain on British society. There has not been any justice.’ 

The Vossi Bop star has used his platform to criticise the aftermath of the Grenfell Tower fire, performing a freestyle rap at the Brits in 2018 in which he called out then Prime Minister Theresa May. 

Sunday marked three years since a small kitchen fire on the fourth floor in the high-rise turned into the most deadly domestic blaze since the Second World War.

A total of 72 residents lost their lives and a further 74 sent to hospital with non-fatal injuries.  

Firefighters battled for nearly 24 hours before the inferno was eventually brought under control at 1.14am on June 15. 

In tribute to each victim who died in the blaze, bells of London churches will toll 72 times and green lights will glow from tower block windows.

Faith leaders conducted sermons and reflections online throughout Sunday and from 10.30pm, people in homes across the UK are asked to shine a bright green light from their screens to show solidarity with the bereaved and survivors. 

Tragedy: Sunday marked three years since a small kitchen fire on the fourth floor in the high-rise turned into the most deadly domestic blaze since the Second World War (pictured)

Tragedy: Sunday marked three years since a small kitchen fire on the fourth floor in the high-rise turned into the most deadly domestic blaze since the Second World War (pictured)

The public inquiry into the disaster was paused in March because of the pandemic and is due to restart on July 6. 

Fixing all serious fire safety defects in high-risk residential buildings could cost up to £15 billion, a parliamentary committee recently warned.

Nearly 2,000 residential buildings are still covered in cladding, with thousands of homeowners sleeping in potential fire-traps every night, according to the report by the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee (HCLGC).

What the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee (HCLGC) is calling for, three years after the devastating Grenfell fire  

The parliamentary committee report into high-risk residential buildings, which is titled, Cladding: Progress of Remediation, calls for: 

  • The Government to ensure all buildings of any height with ACM cladding to be fully remediated of all fire safety defects by December 2021.
  • Buildings with other fire safety defects, including non-ACM cladding, should be remediated before June 2022.
  • The Building Safety Fund to be increased to address all fire safety defects in every high-risk residential building, potentially costing up to £15 billion.
  • Any residential building where works have not commenced by December this year to be subject to a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO), with a new national body created to step in where councils are ‘unable or unwilling to act’.

But the Government’s new £1 billion fund to remove certain types of cladding will cover just one-third of the highest-risk blocks in England, it adds.  

Moreover, it says: ‘Stringent rules on applying to the fund, including a short application window and restrictions against social housing providers, risks leaving many unable to access vital funding.’ 

The report calls on the Government to pay the ‘exorbitant costs’ of temporary safety measures currently being footed by blameless leaseholders, before preparing to take legal action against building owners who have dragged their heels. 

It suggests a hard line should be taken against slow-moving building owners, including an extensive use of Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPO) to take direct ownership of the freehold of buildings with serious fire safety defects.

The report, Cladding: Progress of Remediation, states: ‘Residents are facing life-changing bills for more than just combustible cladding. 

‘If the Government doesn’t provide additional funding, let us be clear: it means tens of thousands of residents sent massive bills for problems that aren’t their fault, and which, in many cases, will be a financial burden from which they will never recover. 

‘It means thousands fewer affordable homes, as councils and housing associations are forced to divert funds to remediation projects; and worst of all, it will mean that some works are never carried out.’ 

The Government has so far committed £200 million for the removal of ACM cladding from private residential blocks and £400 million for social sector blocks. 

In the spring budget, Chancellor Rishi Sunak set up a £1 billion fund for the removal of unsafe non-ACM cladding for residential blocks 18 metres or taller.

But the committee said this would cover only around 600 of the 1,700 buildings, saying the Government is ‘clearly trying to find ways to fit a £3 billion liability into a £1 billion funding pot.’

Moreover, building owners only have between June 1 and July 31 to apply for funds, which are to be allocated on a ‘first come, first served’ basis, and any works commenced before March 2020 will not be covered.     

MailOnline has contacted the Kensington and Chelsea TMO and the Kensington and Chelsea London Borough Council for further comment.