Credit: Hansard
Stephen has accused the government of breaking its promise to protect leaseholders in East Ham after MPs considered amendments made by the House of Lords to the Fire Safety Bill.
Stephen supported a Lords amendment to place robust requirements on building owners or managers and implement the Phase 1 recommendations of the Grenfell Inquiry. He also supported amendments to prevent freeholders from passing on fire safety remediation costs to leaseholders. These amendments would have sped up the legislative process, which has already cost leaseholders millions of pounds, by protecting leaseholders from the day the Bill comes into force.
Stephen made a brief speech during the debate, and made specific mention of two local developments at Waterside Park and Upton Gardens. You can watch the speech here.
Speaking afterwards, Stephen said: “I cannot understand why Conservative MPs are consistently voting against vital fire safety measures called for by the Grenfell Inquiry.”
“This Bill was an opportunity for the Government to finally put the public’s safety first and to deliver on the promises it has made to leaseholders. However, the Government rejected the amendments that I supported, and they were removed from the Bill.”