Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn turned up to Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) wearing a green tie on Wednesday. Mr Corbyn wore the tie in honour of the victims of the Grenfell Fire. The colour green has been used to commemorate the tragedy which killed 72 people in 2017.
Since the tragedy, green has been used to show support and solidarity with the victims and their families and friends.
A common theme throughout the memorials has been the colour green.
People have worn green scarves and badges and multiple MPs, including Prime Minister Boris Johnson, wore the Green Heart for Grenfell badge to the PMQs.
It is meant to be a symbol of “hope, unity and love – and to remember those that were lost”.
Responding to reports of the leaked Grenfell Tower Inquiry phase one report, Mr Corbyn said on Tuesday: “The publication of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry report should be brought forward to today so there can be an informed debate on this important report.
“Any recommendations made about the fire service must be given the full response they require.
“I pay tribute to the heroic actions of firefighters in our country every day, including on the night of the Grenfell Tower fire.
“It wasn’t firefighters who diluted building regulations or put flammable cladding on Grenfell Tower.
The findings were welcomed by a group representing survivors, but fire chiefs have hit back at some of the criticism levelled against London Fire Brigade.
London Fire Brigade Commissioner Dany Cotton said: “We welcome the chairman’s recognition of the courage, commitment and bravery of firefighters on the night, but we are disappointed at some of the criticism of individual staff members who were placed in completely unprecedented circumstances and faced the most unimaginable conditions while trying to save the lives of others.
“On the evacuation of Grenfell Tower we note the chairman states he has received no expert evidence to guide him on reaching his conclusion and that a qualitative judgment on the brigade’s approach might be better reserved for Phase 2.”
The findings were welcomed by a group representing survivors.
Deborah Coles, of charity Inquest which advises people on state-related deaths, said: “The residents of Grenfell Tower were catastrophically failed before, during and after the fire.
“Key findings of this report are strikingly similar to those which followed the Lakanal House fire in 2009. Had previous recommendations been implemented, those in Grenfell Tower may have been safe.
“This fire was predictable and preventable. A national oversight mechanism is urgently needed, to ensure official recommendations from inquiries and inquests are systematically followed up.
“The lasting legacy of Grenfell must be structural change. This requires meaningful action from the inquiry and government, to ensure those affected are not failed once again.”
