UK Bans Firms Linked to Grenfell Inquiry

Claude Wehrle, a former Arconic executive, denies responsibility for the Grenfell Tower fire that killed 72 people, despite an inquiry report accusing him and his company of 'deliberate dishonesty' in selling unsafe cladding. The inquiry found systematic failures across the construction industry and multiple organizations, including the makers of cladding and insulation, contractors, and local government bodies. Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that companies found culpable in the inquiry will be barred from government contracts. Survivors and bereaved family members have called for these companies to be excluded from public contracts, citing fraudulent behavior and manipulation of safety standards. Dame Judith Hackitt highlighted the 'rotten culture' in the construction industry, emphasizing that the issue goes beyond cladding and pertains to overall building safety.