JEREMY Corbyn has urged Theresa May to intervene in the Grenfell Tower inquiry following concern that the probe would fail to consider the broader social and political issues raised by the tragedy.
The Labour leader expressed "deep concerns" over the scope of the inquiry into the high-rise fire, which has been set out in line with recommendations from Sir Martin Moore-Bick, the retired Court of Appeal judge who is leading it.
Mr Corbyn, in a public letter to the Prime Minister, raised fears that the probe's focus was to "avoid criticism" for UK Government policy failures "rather than secure justice for Grenfell survivors".
His intervention came after politicians and campaigners criticised the inquiry for failing to include issue of social housing in the terms of reference, which were announced on Tuesday.
Writing to Mrs May, the Labour leader said: "It is, of course, a relief that the inquiry is now up and running and that survivors are one step closer to the answers they so desperately need.
"However, I am deeply concerned by the decision to exclude the broader social and political issues raised by the fire from the terms of reference of the inquiry.
"The fire has raised profound concerns about the way that social housing is provided and managed in this country, and I - as well as many survivors - worry that, without a wider focus, the inquiry will fail to get fully to grips with the causes of the fire.
"The fear is that the priority is to avoid criticism of your party's policy failures rather than secure justice for Grenfell survivors, along with the safety of the many other people who live in social housing in this country."
Mr Corbyn urged the PM to set out "a clear, independent and thorough process for identifying and addressing the broader failings that led to the Grenfell fire", which led to the deaths of more than 80 people.
The inquiry, he said, must include people from minority backgrounds to introduce a broader range of views, as residents had demands.
The Labour leader also called for survivors to be given indefinite right to remain in the UK on a discretionary basis, saying failure to do so could "undermine" the inquiry as people might be afraid to contribute because of their immigration status.
Mrs May has accepted the terms of the inquiry in full but insisted that social housing issues would not be "unanswered" as she has ordered Housing Minister Alok Sharma to review social housing.
The inquiry has now officially begun and it will hold its first hearing on September 14 with an initial report by Easter.
It will examine the actions of the authorities before the fire and the handling of the aftermath as well as the "adequacy" of building regulations, the recent refurbishment of the block and the causes of the fire, the Government said.
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