UK papers on Thursday focused on the seven-year public inquiry into the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire, which concluded that the deaths of 72 people were avoidable and blamed “decades of failure” by central government to stop the spread of combustible cladding combined with the “systematic dishonesty” of the multimillion-dollar companies producing it.
The Guardian headlined its story “Grenfell: a disaster caused by ‘dishonesty and greed’”. It reported that police are now “under pressure to accelerate the criminal investigation” into the blaze, although it could be another 12 to 18 months before police can send files to prosecutors to consider charges.
Thursday’s GUARDIAN: “Grenfell: a disaster caused by ‘dishonesty and greed’ “ #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/KNzTMKwazS
— Allie Hodgkins-Brown (@AllieHBNews) September 4, 2024
The Times splashed on “Killed by greed and a culture of dishonesty”, writing that police and prosecutors were “facing calls to bring criminal charges” over the tragedy after the “devastating inquiry” uncovered a “litany of failings”.
Thursday’s TIMES: “Killed by greed and a culture of dishonesty” #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/QuGEZqmSfR
— Allie Hodgkins-Brown (@AllieHBNews) September 4, 2024
The Daily Mail asked “Will they EVER get justice?” on its front page, reporting that families bereaved by the disaster “will have been forced to wait a decade before they find out if justice will be done”.
Thursday’s Daily MAIL: “Will They EVER Get Justice?” #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/Mup1C1QoCD
— Allie Hodgkins-Brown (@AllieHBNews) September 4, 2024
“Everyone failed them”, the i headlined, featuring a composite image of the victims faces and reporting that “PM Keir Starmer apologises to victims on behalf of British state as bereaved families say ‘justice has been stolen away from us’.”
Thursday’s i - “Everyone failed them” #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/WKxb5CXlSn
— Allie Hodgkins-Brown (@AllieHBNews) September 4, 2024
The Financial Times led with “Official failings and industry deceits led to Grenfell tragedy, inquiry finds”. The inquiry found that deregulation was “put before safety”, cladding warnings “were ignored”, and that “Manufacturers manipulated testing”, the paper wrote.
Just published: front page of the Financial Times, UK edition, Thursday 5 September https://t.co/xmUpxOulrw pic.twitter.com/JDV60VGIAJ
— Financial Times (@FT) September 4, 2024
The Daily Mirror’s front page was filled with images of the victims above the headline: “Now get them justice”.
Thursday's front page: Now get them justice https://t.co/K33eAHUw9P#TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/FwUt17p5uY
— The Mirror (@DailyMirror) September 4, 2024
The Metro ran with “Grenfell: the 26-year countdown to disaster”, writing that warning signs that could have averted the tragedy were “ignored for at least 26 years”.
Tomorrow's Paper Today 📰
— Metro (@MetroUK) September 4, 2024
GRENFELL: THE 26-YEAR COUNTDOWN TO DISASTER
🔴 Official verdict: 72 avoidable deaths
Grab your copy to find 10 great deals from Metro x Time Out Offers#tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/JXiApq1Lj6
The Daily Express headlined its story “72 killed by: dishonesty indifference complacency”, writing that the “damning report” had exposed the “‘path to disaster’ that turned Grenfell Tower into death trap”.
Thursday’s Daily EXPRESS: “72 Killed By: Dishonesty Indifference Complacency” #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/xQ5KLc7KCL
— Allie Hodgkins-Brown (@AllieHBNews) September 4, 2024
The Sun splashed on “Now put them in the dock”, writing, “Grenfell culprits must face court”.
The Daily Telegraph splashed on “Sewage leak bosses to face two years’ jail” but also featured Grenfell on its front page, writing “Grenfell ‘crooks and killers’ will not face justice until 2026”.
The front page of tomorrow’s Daily Telegraph:
— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) September 4, 2024
Sewage leak water bosses to face two years’ jail#TomorrowsPapersToday
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