It was an honour to be asked to speak at the Grenfell vigil in Ipswich on Wednesday evening, as we gathered to remember the 72 people who lost their lives in horrifying circumstances six years ago.

In truth, it was difficult to find the words. What can you say that might bring some solace when so little has changed since that night on 14th June 2017?

But we have to find the words, and we must never forget the grief and devastation that continues, because justice has still not been done.

Yet, saying ‘never again’ now seems increasingly hollow. 72 months have now passed since 72 people died at Grenfell Tower, with the tragedy exposing a scandalous reality. Buildings all over the country were built and signed off, but they were never safe. We now know these buildings are death traps, posing a risk to life. We now know the scale of the problem, and we have known it for a long time. Yet, the reality is, six years since the Grenfell disaster, nothing has changed, if anything, it has got worse.

Across the country, there are thousands of people who go to bed at night, terrified that their building might not be safe, and wondering if their dream of home ownership is set to turn into a living nightmare.

In Ipswich, there are already many people who are suffering the consequences of the Building Safety Crisis. Residents of St Francis Tower have lived under shrink wrap for two years. People in Cardinal Lofts have been evicted from their own homes, not knowing if they will ever be able to return. There are many more people anxious that they might be next.

When people said ‘never again’, it should have meant exactly that, yet so little progress has been made over the past six years. The Government is intent on tinkering around the edges when serious reforms are urgently needed, while developers and freeholders have refused to take responsibility, protecting their profits ahead of supporting residents.

I recognise that the situation is complex and that many buildings require different approaches,
but the basic starting point must be that all leaseholders are protected irrespective of their
circumstances and shouldn’t pay for any cladding or non-cladding historic defects. The pace of
remediation across the country is incredibly slow, and there are still no enforceable standards
for how that remediation work is carried out.

Lord Best’s housing reform recommendations have gathered dust since being published in 2019, and we have also seen the Government row back on its commitments to reform the feudal leasehold system and move to commonhold. Labour has pledged to introduce legislation within the first 100 days of Government to abolish leasehold, but why do we have to wait even longer for a General Election for this to happen?
For the families who lost loved ones and those that survived the Grenfell disaster, the wait for justice goes on, with the Inquiry not set to publish its findings until next year. To date, no-one has yet faced the consequences for this terrible tragedy despite clear and multiple failings.

At this point I wish to pay tribute to the Ipswich Cladiators, a local campaign group that has been fighting on behalf of those so badly affected by the Building Safety Crisis. People like Alex Dickin, Claire Hamblion and Chu Man have shown such strength, grace and courage in campaigning for change and supporting people across Ipswich, despite going through incredibly traumatic experiences themselves.

It is our job to stand in solidarity with them and keep fighting for justice, for the people so badly affected by the Building Safety Crisis, and for the 72 people who lost their lives six years ago.