MAYOR OF London, Sadiq Khan, has called for the Grenfell Inquiry Tower Inquiry to put a greater focus on whether race and discrimination were factors in the tragedy.

Khan said it was a missed opportunity by the Inquiry not to have included an examination of whether race and discrimination more generally were factors in the fire on 14 June 2017.

He also expressed concerns that a diverse and representative panel is still not in place and supported a call made by a group of bereaved Grenfell families for the Inquiry to investigate how issues of racism contributed to the tragedy.

In a letter to Inquiry Chair, Sir Martin Moore-Bick, written before the Inqjuiry took a five week break from August to September Khan said that the Inquiry’s terms of reference failed to include wider questions about social housing and the treatment of tenants.

Khan said: “We must all do everything in our power to learn the lessons from Grenfell and prevent a similar disaster from ever happening again. This includes investigating the role that discrimination and inequality played in this tragedy – something sorely lacking from the Inquiry so far.

“I believe it’s crucial that we explore the issue of social housing in this country and I urge the Grenfell Tower Inquiry to give this greater attention when it reconvenes again in September. This Inquiry provides an opportunity to bring about meaningful change to how residents are treated, and to ensure they can feel safe in their homes. 

“The Prime Minister and his Government need to turn warm words into proper action – the lack of progress and communication is simply unacceptable. 

“The Prime Minister promised urgency in appointing a new panel member to the Inquiry, but five months on, the bereaved, next of kin, survivors and residents of Grenfell Tower are still waiting for the independent and diverse panel they deserve, and what we know is essential for the full trust of the community.”