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© Copyright, Independent Public Advocate 2026.

Grenfell Tower Memorial Bill passes through Parliament

Published:

Yesterday (April 14 2026), the Grenfell Tower Memorial (Expenditure) Bill passed through all stages of Parliament without opposition, authorising government funding for a permanent memorial to those who tragically lost their lives in the Grenfell Tower fire.

The fire, which took place on 14 June 2017, was a devastating and preventable disaster that claimed 72 lives and shattered families, communities and trust in public institutions. It was a profound injustice that exposed deep and enduring failures in how people were protected in their homes and how warning signs were ignored.

The Bill will allow public funding to be released for the memorial project and is expected to receive Royal Assent in the coming months.

The memorial will be built on the site of Grenfell Tower in North Kensington – a place that holds deep significance for bereaved families, survivors and the wider community, and where collective grief, remembrance and solidarity have been expressed for years. The Independent Public Advocate recognises the importance of this moment and is clear that any permanent memorial must respect the meaning this site holds and remain firmly rooted in the voices and experiences of those affected.

Cindy Butts, Independent Public Advocate, said:

The passing of the Grenfell Tower Memorial Bill is an important step in honouring the 72 people whose lives were so tragically taken. It was also important to see clear cross‑party recognition that remembrance must be properly supported and sustained for the long term.

The Grenfell site carries profound meaning for bereaved families, survivors and the wider community, who have shaped it into something sacred over many years. Their voices must remain at the centre of every decision as the site evolves.

A permanent memorial can provide a dignified space to remember and reflect. But remembrance alone is not enough. It does not, and cannot, resolve what went wrong. The truest act of remembrance is ensuring that truth, accountability and justice continue to follow.

While the memorial will provide a lasting place to honour those who died, it is not a conclusion. Memorialisation must not be mistaken for accountability, nor allowed to eclipse the ongoing need to learn from Grenfell and to address the systemic failures that led to such devastating loss of life.