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Minister gives up Grenfell role over visits to event sponsored by cladding firm

The Franco-British Colloque was co-sponsored by Saint Gobain, ultimate owner of a company that was heavily criticised by the Grenfell Inquiry.

Christopher McKeon
Monday 21 October 2024 07:07 EDT
Survivors of the Grenfell Tower disaster had expressed concern at Rushanara Aliā€™s regular attendance at a conference (Lucy North/PA)
Survivors of the Grenfell Tower disaster had expressed concern at Rushanara Aliā€™s regular attendance at a conference (Lucy North/PA) (PA Wire)

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A minister has given up her responsibility for building safety and the response to the Grenfell Tower disaster over her attendance at a conference sponsored by a company implicated in the fire.

Rushanara Ali, who remains minister for homelessness, said she had relinquished her building safety responsibilities, saying ā€œperception mattersā€.

Grenfell United, which represents some of the survivors and bereaved families of the disaster, had reportedly expressed concern about Ms Aliā€™s regular attendance at the Franco-British Colloque, an annual conference involving politicians, civil servants and businesses from both countries.

The event had at the time been co-chaired by Pierre-Andre de Chalendar, chief executive and chairman of French company Saint Gobain, which also sponsored the event.

Until this year, Saint Gobain was the ultimate owner of insulation firm Celotex, which made the majority of insulation boards in the flammable cladding on Grenfell Tower.

The Grenfell Inquiryā€™s final report said Celotex had ā€œembarked on a dishonest scheme to mislead its customers and the wider marketā€ about the fire resistance offered by its products.

In its response, Celotex said it had ā€œreviewed and improved process controls, quality management and the approach to marketing within the Celotex business to meet industry best practiceā€.

Ms Ali said she had urged the Collqueā€™s organisers to cut ties with Saint Gobain, one of several businesses to sponsor the event, which she attended on a number of occasions, most recently in January this year.

In a statement confirming her change of role, Ms Ali said: ā€œTrusted relationships between ministers and the Grenfell community are essential for this Department. Before I became a minister, I called for the French delegation of the Franco-British Colloque to cut ties with Saint Gobain. But I understand that perception matters and I have therefore concluded that the building safety portfolio would be best transferred to another minister.

ā€œOur goals of making buildings safe and preventing another tragedy continue to be very important issues for me, and the Deputy Prime Minister and the rest of the ministerial team have my full support in delivering on this work.ā€

It is understood that Mr De Chalendar has now stepped down as co-chairman of the event and Saint Gobain will not be involved in future conferences.

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