‘Everyone failed them’: what the papers say on report into deadly Grenfell Tower fire

UK papers on Thursday focused on the seven-year public inquiry into the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire , which concluded that the deaths of 72 people were avoidable and blamed “decades of failure” by central government to stop the spread of combustible cladding combined with the “systematic dishonesty” of the multimillion-dollar companies producing it.

The Guardian headlined its story “Grenfell: a disaster caused by ‘dishonesty and greed’”. It reported that police are now “under pressure to accelerate the criminal investigation” into the blaze, although it could be another 12 to 18 months before police can send files to prosecutors to consider charges.

The Times splashed on “Killed by greed and a culture of dishonesty”, writing that police and prosecutors were “facing calls to bring criminal charges” over the tragedy after the “devastating inquiry” uncovered a “litany of failings”.

The Daily Mail asked “Will they EVER get justice?” on its front page, reporting that families bereaved by the disaster “will have been forced to wait a decade before they find out if justice will be done”.

“Everyone failed them”, the i headlined, featuring a composite image of the victims faces and reporting that “PM Keir Starmer apologises to victims on behalf of British state as bereaved families say ‘justice has been stolen away from us’.”

The Financial Times led with “Official failings and industry deceits led to Grenfell tragedy, inquiry finds”. The inquiry found that deregulation was “put before safety”, cladding warnings “were ignored”, and that “Manufacturers manipulated testing”, the paper wrote.

The Daily Mirror ’s front page was filled with images of the victims above the headline: “Now get them justice”.

The Metro ran with “Grenfell: the 26-year countdown to disaster”, writing that warning signs that could have averted the tragedy were “ignored for at least 26 years”.

The Daily Express headlined its story “72 killed by: dishonesty indifference complacency”, writing that the “damning report” had exposed the “‘path to disaster’ that turned Grenfell Tower into death trap”.

The Sun splashed on “Now put them in the dock”, writing, “Grenfell culprits must face court”.

The Daily Telegraph splashed on “Sewage leak bosses to face two years’ jail” but also featured Grenfell on its front page, writing “Grenfell ‘crooks and killers’ will not face justice until 2026”.