Nine years after the Grenfell Tower fire killed 72 people, families are still waiting to learn whether anyone will face criminal charges over a disaster the public inquiry found was avoidable. The Metropolitan Police has now handed prosecutors files relating to 54 individuals and 20 companies and organisations, asking the Crown Prosecution Service to consider offences including corporate manslaughter, gross negligence manslaughter, fraud and health and safety breaches.
No charges have yet been brought, and prosecutors must judge the evidence independently. But the delay itself has become another burden for families who have already endured unimaginable loss. Grenfell United has said no family should have to fight this hard, for this long.
Charging decisions promised before tenth anniversary
The CPS has promised charging decisions before the tenth anniversary next June. That promise must be kept. After almost a decade, every lawful avenue must now be pursued with urgency, every decision explained, and those responsible held to account where the evidence supports charges.
Rebuild Sure Start
Sure Start was one of Labour's great achievements, creating local centres where parents could get healthcare, childcare, parenting support and practical help under one roof. Between 2010 and 2022, family-services spending fell by around three-quarters, and roughly one in three Sure Start centres closed or scaled back.
Health Secretary Yvette Cooper, who helped introduce the original scheme, is now reviving its spirit by bringing Healthy Babies services to more than 1,000 family hubs. That means feeding help, mental health support, health visitors and midwives. The Conservatives dismantled support that worked, and Labour's task now is to rebuild it properly and make sure no child is denied the strongest possible start.
Pilot saves lives
When hundreds of lives were suddenly thrown into danger at 34,000ft, an off-duty British pilot reportedly stepped forward to help bring the plane safely down as the aircraft plunged and chaos engulfed the cockpit. Such courage deserves enormous praise, and Britain should be proud of him.
