PMQs live: Starmer mocks Badenoch’s ‘search for relevance’ in clash over defence

Investigations will be launched into seven organisations criticised in the Grenfell Tower Inquiry report, with the potential they could be banned from public contracts in future.

They are: Arconic Architectural Products SAS; Saint-Gobain Construction Products UK Limited which previously owned Celotex Limited; Exova (UK) Limited; Harley Facades Limited; Kingspan Insulation Limited; Rydon Maintenance Limited; and Studio E Architects Limited.

Cabinet Office parliamentary secretary Georgia Gould said the firms would be investigated under new debarment powers in the Procurement Act 2023, which came into effect on Monday.

She said: “These investigations will establish whether the organisations have engaged in professional misconduct for the purposes of that Act.”

The organisations will be notified when an investigation is opened, she said, adding that investigations into other organisations could also take place.

Angela Rayner, who is also Housing Secretary, said: ”We are acting on all of the inquiry’s findings, and today set out our full response, detailing the tough action we are taking to drive change and reform the system to ensure no community will ever have to face a tragedy like Grenfell ever again.

“That means greater accountability, stronger regulation, and putting residents at the heart of decision-making.

“We must deliver the fundamental change required. We owe that to the Grenfell community, to the country, and to the memory of those who lost their lives.”

Grenfell Next of Kin, a group representing some of the bereaved, said it will be “paying close attention to these words and intentions” from Government, as it repeated criticism of the “grave mistakes, failures, corruption” it said had led to the deaths.

The group: “We can never forget our beloved kin and we can never forgive the negligence and corruption that led to their deaths.

“The injustice is so great and the measures being put in place now with new laws and reforms are welcomed, but should have been basic requirements for a developed country such as ours.

“Nevertheless let’s move forward in the right direction.”

Offering her condolences to the families of the victims and the survivors of the deadly blaze, Angela Rayner stresses that the inquiry concluded that “every single death was avoidable”.

“The inquiry uncovered serial incompetence and negligence, complacency and inaction – and blatant dishonesty and greed.”

She also added that to her “disgust and their shame”, several of those companies involved had shown “little remorse” and had failed to rectify the issues in the construction of the tower.

The deputy prime minister announced plans to appoint a single construction regulator and a chief construction advisor and added that new powers will be used to investigate a number of firms.

Referring to the inquiry report that was published in September, Angela Rayner said: “All members of the house will have shared my anger of its shocking findings.”

Referring to the “damning evidence or political, corporate and individual failings going back decades”, she described it as “a deadly betrayal, a national tragedy that must never happen again”.

“I will repeat today what the prime minister said in September, to the bereaved families, the survivors and those in the Grenfell community, on behalf of the government and the British state and those responsible, I am very sorry.”

She said that the inquiry report made 58 recommendations, 37 of which were directed at the government, all of which will be taken forward.

Deputy prime minister Angela Rayner is now delivering a statement on the Grenfell Tower inquiry.

She said the tragedy, which killed 72 people in 2017 in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, must be the catalyst for “long-lasting, systemic change”.

When asked by former chancellor Jeremy Hunt if the UK would increase defence spending to 3 per cent, Starmer said: “I agree with him entirely in terms of the priority, in terms of NATO.

“Putin thought he could weaken NATO. He’s only made it stronger and larger.

“NATO’s strength comes from the US and European partners and others working together and that is absolutely the focus of my work at the moment.”

He says “it is right” that, European countries, including the UK, need to do more on defence spend.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey asked the PM if he backs the idea of a new European rearmament bank, adding that it is “clear” that the UK will not be able to rely on the US any longer under Trump.

Sir Keir Starmer replied: “I’ll resist the suggestion we have to choose between the US and our European partners. I do not believe that to be the case.

“And I want to strengthen our already strong relationship with the US, because I think it’s vital that we do so.

“I, of course, want to work with our European allies on defence capability and what more we need to do in relation to capability, coordination, and funding.”

Sir Keir Starmer has once again come under attack from Diane Abbott, this time over his decision to fund a defence spending increase by cutting aid to some of the world’s poorest people.

The veteran left-winger said the “whole country stands behind the people of Ukraine”, but added that “taking money from aid and development to spend on armaments and tanks makes people less safe, not more safe”.

“The desperation and poverty that so often leads to warfare is what aid and development money is supposed to counter,” Ms Abbott added.

It comes after a fierce power struggle between the two before the general election, in which senior Labour figures attempted to force Ms Abbott out of the party, which she eventually won. Sir Keir responded by saying he is proud of what Britain has done on international aid in the past, and he did not take the decision to cut it lightly.

He also promised to return to higher levels of aid spending in future.