Nigel Farage has sacked Reform UK’s housing chief Simon Dudley over his comments on post-Grenfell safety regulation
Dudley had said that post-Grenfell safety regulations have gone too far
“Everyone dies in the end. It’s just how you go, right? You can’t stop tragic things from happening. Fires do happen”
Labour had said: “If Nigel Farage has an ounce of decency, he will sack his housing chief immediately. These disgraceful comments about those who died in the Grenfell Tower fire are beyond the pale and it is completely untenable for Simon Dudley to continue in his position”
Dudley apologised for his comments saying :
“In no shape or form am I belittling that disaster or the huge loss of life. It must never happen again. I reiterate that, and am sorry if it was not sufficiently clear”
A Reform UK spokesperson said: “Homes must, of course, be built safely. However, overly burdensome building safety regulations can stifle housebuilding, meaning targets are missed, and the waiting list for homes grows longer at a time when we need more.
“Simon’s comments on Grenfell reflected his broader point that the regulatory pendulum has swung too far in response to the tragedy. As he explained, there is a fine balance between over-regulation – which can slow the delivery of new homes – and ensuring that more homes are built safely without too much red tape”
