Portrait of Theresa May
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Theresa May on Grenfell Tower

Apologetic over initial (strong) Position evolved

TL;DR

Theresa May expressed deep regret for the government's initial inadequate response to the Grenfell Tower tragedy but later cited key actions as successes.

Key Points

  • She issued a full apology in June 2017 for the initial support on the ground being “not good enough.”

  • In June 2018, she stated she would always regret not meeting survivors and residents during her first visit to the site.

  • She set up an independent public inquiry into the tragedy, chaired by a judge, which was later cited by critics for delaying justice.

Summary

Theresa May, as Prime Minister, addressed the Grenfell Tower disaster in Parliament on 22 June 2017, stating that what happened should never have occurred and accepting responsibility for the compounded failure of the initial support on the ground being inadequate. She detailed immediate government action, including establishing a central command centre, setting up an emergency fund providing cash down-payments to affected households, and guaranteeing rehousing on the same terms as the lost homes. She also announced an independent public inquiry chaired by a judge to establish the truth and ensure accountability, promising that no stone would be left unturned and that victims would have legal representation.

Subsequent to the initial response, she admitted she would always regret not meeting survivors and residents during her first visit to the site, an omission that made it appear she did not care, though she insisted this was never the case. While she later referenced launching the public inquiry as a measure to fight injustice, this retrospective claim drew criticism from groups like the Fire Brigades Union, who felt the inquiry stalled justice and that the initial government response was disgraceful, with long delays in rehousing and legislative change regarding cladding.

Key Quotes

And I will always regret that by not meeting them that day, it seemed as though I didn't care. That was never the case.

As Prime Minister, I apologise for that failure and as Prime Minister I've taken responsibility for doing what we can to put things right.

Frequently Asked Questions

Theresa May's initial reaction involved visiting the site to meet emergency services and hospital staff the day after the fire in June 2017. However, she was widely criticised for failing to meet survivors and affected residents on that first visit, which she later admitted was an error that made it seem she did not care.

The former Prime Minister promised several key actions, including establishing an emergency fund for immediate support and rehousing all affected households within three weeks. Critically, she also announced the launch of an independent public inquiry chaired by a judge to find the truth and ensure accountability.

Yes, when announcing her resignation, Theresa May cited launching the public inquiry as an example of fighting "burning injustices," which drew criticism from some groups. She had previously admitted in June 2018 that her initial handling of the aftermath was 'not good enough' and expressed regret for the specific failure to meet survivors early on.