Nigel Farage sacks housing spokesman over shameful Grenfell ‘everybody dies’ remark
Simon Dudley sparked an outcry after the horrendous remark, claiming in an interview that safety regulation had gone too far in the wake of the tragedy, which claimed 72 lives
Nigel Farage has sacked Simon Dudley(Image: Getty Images)
Nigel Farage has sacked Reform’s housing chief after he described the Grenfell Tower fire as a “tragedy” but said “everyone dies in the end”.
Simon Dudley, a former executive at Homes England and the Ebbsfleet Development Corporation, sparked an outcry with the horrendous remark. He claimed in an interview that the pendulum had “swung too far the wrong way” on regulation following the devastating blaze, which claimed 72 lives.
Mr Dudley told Inside Housing magazine that while the Grenfell fire was a “tragedy”, he does not believe the regulatory framework is proportionate. He went on to say: “Sadly, you know, everyone dies in the end. It’s just how you go, right?” Relatives of those who died voiced their fury at the crass comment.
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In an interview published on Wednesday, Mr Dudley claimed that building safety regulations introduced in the wake of the Grenfell Tower fire were an example of “regulation which is not working”. Grenfell United, which represents many of the families bereaved by the fire as well as survivors, said the comments were “not just insensitive” but “deeply dehumanising”.
In a statement the group said: “Our loved ones did not simply `die’. They were failed. They were trapped in their homes, in a building that should have been safe, in a fire that should never have happened.
“Reducing their deaths to an inevitability strips away the truth: this was preventable. To speak about Grenfell in this way is to erase responsibility.
“It suggests this was just fate, just `how it goes’, rather than the result of years of ignored warnings, poor decisions, and a failure to value the lives of residents, and is deeply offensive and ill informed. Everyone deserves the right to a safe home. But this attitude clearly shows Simon Dudley is not the man to ensure that happens.”
Mr Farage told a press conference that Mr Dudley is no longer a spokesman, describing his words as “deeply inappropriate”. Asked whether Mr Dudley would be sacked, Mr Farage replied: “That’s already happened.”
He added: “He’s not a spokesman for the party – that has been dealt with.” Earlier Keir Starmer said the remark was “shameful” and called for Mr Dudley’s sacking.
Sarah Elliott, chief executive of housing charity Shelter, said: “Simon Dudley’s comments about the Grenfell Tower Fire are shameful. Last year’s inquiry found that all 72 deaths from the fire were avoidable.
“Let’s be clear, no one should have to live in a home that could kill them. Grenfell was the result of horrendous housing injustice that we must not tolerate. It is wrong to suggest we have to make a choice between safe homes or no homes.
“We will only solve the housing emergency when building homes that are safe, secure and genuinely affordable becomes a priority for all politicians and parties.”
The Grenfell Inquiry concluded that the 72 deaths were entirely preventable and had been preceded by “decades of failure” by governments and the building industry to address the dangers of flammable materials on high-rise buildings.
His comments led to a furious backlash, with the Housing Secretary Steve Reed demanding Mr Farage sack him. He 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”.
The London Mayor Sadiq Khan said: “This is just sickeningly insensitive. Not an ounce of decency, compassion or respect for the 72 lives lost and wider community. But this isn’t a slip-up or a stumble. This is Reform showing us exactly who they are.”
