Grenfell Tower fire: Inquiry chair prepared to 'broaden' scope as Kensington council elects new leader

Campaigners call Tory councillors' choice of leader 'unacceptable'

Campaigners said the low number of victims coming forward was evidence that the so-called amnesty was ‘meaningless’ for vulnerable victims, with the 12-month limit meaning survivors would ultimately be at risk of deportation if they come forward (Getty)

The Grenfell Tower inquiry chairman is prepared to consider "broader" issues when investigating the cause of the fire as Kensington and Chealsea council chose a new Tory leader.

Sir Martin Moore-Bick previously suggested that his investigation would be limited to the causes of the deadly fire, why it spread so quickly and how it could be prevented in the future.

But survivors reportedly put pressure on the retired judge to broaden the scope of the inquiry and look into building regulations at the time the tower was built in the early 1970s.

One source said Sir Martin was prepared to investigate why some alleged warnings about the building were not listened to.

The revelation came as the new leader of Kensington and Chelsea council, Elizabeth Campbell, a former member of the council's cabinet, was under pressure from campaigners who said they had no confidence in her.

Sue Caro, a co-ordinator of the Justice 4 Grenfell group that represents survivor, called for the new leadership of the council to be dissolved saying the council previously proved it was "not fit" for the task.

Ms Cambpbell was nominated by Kensington Conservatives to replace Nicholas Paget-Brown, who resigned on Friday over the handling of the aftermath of the Grenfell fire disaster.

In her first public statement, Mc Campbell, who stepped down as cabinet member for family and children's services in May, said she was "truly sorry" and pledged to "heal the wounds in the community".

But campaigner Ms Caro told the Press Association her track record was "not considered to be particularly good" and that her nomination was "unacceptable".

She said: "I know that she was a cabinet member already - it's completely unacceptable. It's like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.

"They have shown they are not fit to run a council or deliver the services that are needed and I don't really think it matters who is the leader."

Ms Campbell must be formally elected by a meeting of the full council but one Tory councillor said the election was a "formality".

Speaking to reporters following her nomination, she said: "The first thing I want to do is I want to apologise. This is our community and we have failed it when people needed us the most. So, no buts, no ifs, no excuses - I am truly sorry."

"As new leader, I will appoint a new cabinet tomorrow and things are going to change."

She added she would also phone Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Sajid Javid and ask for more help.

The investigation into the Grenfell Tower disaster, which saw 80 people die, is now understood to be a broad interpretation of what caused the fire which will extend beyond "the physics of what happened".

The probe is also likely to consider the response of authorities since the blaze was not brought under control for more than a day.

A three-week consultation is underway with victims' families and survivors likely to play a role in the inquiry.

Sir Martin came under pressure from campaigners when he emerged from a meeting with survivors and said he was "doubtful" the inquiry would be broad enough to satisfy them all.

Additional reporting by agencies