Grenfell Tower Inquiry delayed until March

Image: Dreamstime/Alex Danila

The Grenfell Tower Inquiry, whose second phase is examining the way in which the building was refurbished, will not resume until the start of next month.

The inquiry has stalled amid wrangling over whether or not witnesses from companies involved in the refurbishment of Grenfell Tower, including Rydon, and Harley Facades, should be granted protection from self-incrimination.

• Grenfell inquiry accepts refurb firms’ call for protection

It has been nearly a month since Jonathan Laidlaw QC, representing companies expecting to be called to give evidence, applied for the attorney general to give a formal undertaking that nothing said by a witness in evidence would be used in any potential prosecution.

The chairman of the inquiry, Sir Martin Moore-Bick agreed to allow the application but correspondence from the office of the newly appointed attorney general Suella Braverman has expressed concern that the way in which the witnesses’ request for protection is phrased “has the potential to create real and practical challenges for the investigation and potential prosecution of any criminal offences arising out of the events which the inquiry is considering”.

A spokesperson for the Inquiry said: “The inquiry has received an indication that the attorney general will aim to make a decision regarding the undertaking in the week commencing 24 February 2020. The inquiry hopes therefore to be able to resume on 2 March 2020.”