MP David Lammy urges swift action to allay Grenfell cover-up fears

Labour MP David Lammy has called on the Prime Minister and Metropolitan Police to immediately seize all relevant Grenfell Tower documents.

He said that after speaking to residents, suspicion of a cover-up is rising and Theresa May and investigators must ensure all pertinent documents are protected.

The Tottenham MP said: “Within the community, trust in the authorities is falling through the floor and a suspicion of a cover-up is rising.

“The Prime Minister needs to act immediately to ensure that all evidence is protected so that everyone culpable for what happened at Grenfell Tower is held to account and feels the full force of the law.

“We need urgent action now to make sure that all records and documents relating to the refurbishment and management of Grenfell Tower are protected.”

Mr Lammy added that justice can only done if all records – emails, minutes of meetings, correspondence with contractors, safety assessments, specifications and reports – are preserved.

He said: “When the truth comes out about this tragedy we may find that there is blood on the hands of a number of organisations.

“At this stage, it is my grave concern that the families of Grenfell Tower will not get justice if documents are being quietly destroyed and shredded and emails are being deleted.”

The police have powers to seize all documents, but Section 35 of the Public Inquiry Act, which makes the destruction of any documents a criminal offence, does not apply until a chairman is appointed and the terms of reference set.

Speaking to the Press Association in Northampton, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the report had posed tough and uncomfortable questions that the Government had to answer.

“I welcome David Lammy’s report, I admire the work that he’s put into it, and indeed I spoke to him this morning about it,” Mr Corbyn said.

“He’s pointing out that our criminal justice system seems to end up with a wholly disproportionate number of young black people, particularly young black men, in prison, being tried by a judicial system that is not reflective of the diversity of our society.

“David has asked some tough, strong and, for many people, very uncomfortable questions.

“If we want to live in a society where everybody has a chance and everybody is fairly treated, David’s questions must be answered.”