<description>&lt;p&gt;After more than four years, more than three hundred thousand documents, four hundred days of testimony and around £150 million, the Inquiry heard its final evidence. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Lawyers for the core participants put forward the arguments they think the chair of the Inquiry, Sir Martin Moore-Bick, should consider as he produces his final report.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Lead Counsel Richard Millett said all the deaths at Grenfell Tower were avoidable and strongly criticised companies and organisations involved in the refurbishment for failing to take responsibility. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;And Paulos Tekle, a Tower resident, whose five-year-old son lost his life on the night of the fire, tells us what he expects from the final report. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Presenter: Kate Lamble &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Producers: Sharon Hemans and Luke Radcliff &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Researcher: Marcia Veiga &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Sound Engineer: Gareth Jones &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Editor: Hugh Levinson&lt;/p&gt;</description>

“All the deaths were avoidable”

After more than four years, more than three hundred thousand documents, four hundred days of testimony and around £150 million, the Inquiry heard its final evidence. Lawyers for the core participants put forward the arguments they think the chair of the Inquiry, Sir Martin Moore-Bick, should consider as he produces his final report.Lead Counsel Richard Millett said all the deaths at Grenfell Tower were avoidable and strongly criticised companies and organisations involved in the refurbishment for failing to take responsibility. And Paulos Tekle, a Tower resident, whose five-year-old son lost his life on the night of the fire, tells us what he expects from the final report. Presenter: Kate Lamble Producers: Sharon Hemans and Luke Radcliff Researcher: Marcia Veiga Sound Engineer: Gareth Jones Editor: Hugh Levinson

203 The End of the Hearings

<description>&lt;p&gt;"I can’t undo the past, but I wanted to be a part of making things better” 
 
While the Inquiry has paused hearing evidence, Kate Lamble spoke in depth to Nick Hurd, a former Minister for Policing and the Fire Service and now the government’s independent advisor on Grenfell. She asked about his experiences while in government immediately after the fire and discussed what the future holds for the tower itself and how to memorialise the site. 
 
Presenter: Kate Lamble 
Producers: Sharon Hemans and Kristiina Cooper 
Researcher: Marcia Veiga 
Studio Mix: Gareth Jones 
Editor: Hugh Levinson&lt;/p&gt;</description>

"I can’t undo the past, but I wanted to be a part of making things better”

"I can’t undo the past, but I wanted to be a part of making things better” 
 
While the Inquiry has paused hearing evidence, Kate Lamble spoke in depth to Nick Hurd, a former Minister for Policing and the Fire Service and now the government’s independent advisor on Grenfell. She asked about his experiences while in government immediately after the fire and discussed what the future holds for the tower itself and how to memorialise the site. 
 
Presenter: Kate Lamble 
Producers: Sharon Hemans and Kristiina Cooper 
Researcher: Marcia Veiga 
Studio Mix: Gareth Jones 
Editor: Hugh Levinson

202 Nick Hurd

<description>&lt;p&gt;Toxicologist Professor David Purser told the Inquiry that the rapid spread of smoke was the principal cause of death, and that burning cladding panels and insulation were the main source of this poisonous smoke. The Inquiry also heard closing statements for Module 4, covering the immediate aftermath of the fire. From next week it will turn into an inquest, so for this reason the podcast will not be covering those hearings. The podcast will return when the Inquiry produces its final report for the government. 
 
Presenter: Kate Lamble 
Producers: Sharon Hemans and Kristiina Cooper 
Researcher: Marcia Veiga 
Sound Engineer: Gareth Jones 
Editor: Hugh Levinson&lt;/p&gt;</description>

“They were failed before the fire, during the fire, and after the fire"

Toxicologist Professor David Purser told the Inquiry that the rapid spread of smoke was the principal cause of death, and that burning cladding panels and insulation were the main source of this poisonous smoke. The Inquiry also heard closing statements for Module 4, covering the immediate aftermath of the fire. From next week it will turn into an inquest, so for this reason the podcast will not be covering those hearings. The podcast will return when the Inquiry produces its final report for the government. 
 
Presenter: Kate Lamble 
Producers: Sharon Hemans and Kristiina Cooper 
Researcher: Marcia Veiga 
Sound Engineer: Gareth Jones 
Editor: Hugh Levinson

201 Expert toxicology evidence, and closing statements on the aftermath

<description>&lt;p&gt;This week the inquiry heard closing statements for Module 6, outlining how combustible materials came to be tested, certified and regulated and ended up being installed on the outside walls of Grenfell Tower. Lawyers representing the Bereaved, Survivors and Residents said the Inquiry had exposed fault-lines in the “edifice of government” and another said the “seeds of the Grenfell Tower fire were sown 20 years earlier”. There was criticism of manufacturers, regulators, building control bodies and of the government, with barristers accusing a “cabal of ministers” of being “enslaved to the deregulatory agenda”. 
 
Presenter: Kate Lamble 
Producers: Sharon Hemans and Kristiina Cooper 
Researcher: Marcia Veiga 
Sound Engineer: Gareth Jones 
Editor: Hugh Levinson&lt;/p&gt;</description>

“Crime, compound negligence and neglect across this industry”

This week the inquiry heard closing statements for Module 6, outlining how combustible materials came to be tested, certified and regulated and ended up being installed on the outside walls of Grenfell Tower. Lawyers representing the Bereaved, Survivors and Residents said the Inquiry had exposed fault-lines in the “edifice of government” and another said the “seeds of the Grenfell Tower fire were sown 20 years earlier”. There was criticism of manufacturers, regulators, building control bodies and of the government, with barristers accusing a “cabal of ministers” of being “enslaved to the deregulatory agenda”. 
 
Presenter: Kate Lamble 
Producers: Sharon Hemans and Kristiina Cooper 
Researcher: Marcia Veiga 
Sound Engineer: Gareth Jones 
Editor: Hugh Levinson

200 Closing Statements on testing and regulation

<description>&lt;p&gt;This week, as we passed the fifth anniversary of the Grenfell Tower fire, two expert witnesses levelled a series of fierce criticisms at the building safety regime. José Torero, head of the civil engineering department at a London university, described the competence levels among fire safety professionals as “extremely poor” and called for the Stay Put strategy to be abandoned. And Luke Bisby, professor of fire and structures at Edinburgh University, told the Inquiry, that he was “incredulous” at the misuse of fire tests by a cladding firm, and said there was a “significant problem” with the level of competence of fire safety professionals. 
Presenter: Kate Lamble 
Producers: Sharon Hemans and Kristiina Cooper 
Researcher: Marcia Veiga 
Sound Engineer: Gareth Jones 
Editor: Hugh Levinson&lt;/p&gt;</description>

“Foolish, irresponsible and a missed opportunity”

This week, as we passed the fifth anniversary of the Grenfell Tower fire, two expert witnesses levelled a series of fierce criticisms at the building safety regime. José Torero, head of the civil engineering department at a London university, described the competence levels among fire safety professionals as “extremely poor” and called for the Stay Put strategy to be abandoned. And Luke Bisby, professor of fire and structures at Edinburgh University, told the Inquiry, that he was “incredulous” at the misuse of fire tests by a cladding firm, and said there was a “significant problem” with the level of competence of fire safety professionals. 
Presenter: Kate Lamble 
Producers: Sharon Hemans and Kristiina Cooper 
Researcher: Marcia Veiga 
Sound Engineer: Gareth Jones 
Editor: Hugh Levinson

199 Expert Witnesses: Week 2

Every week the Grenfell Tower Inquiry sits, we analyse and explain the evidence heard.Presenter / Producer: Kate Lamble
Producers: Sharon Hemans and Kristiina Cooper 
Researcher: Marcia Veiga 
Editor: Hugh Levinson

The Grenfell Tower Inquiry Podcast

Details

Recent Episodes