Grenfell Tower victims to be consulted in public inquiry

Protesters shouted * a href="https://newswire.storyful.com/storylines/*/stories/170376" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" *"May Must Go" and chanted in favour of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn during a rally outside Downing Street in London on June 17.

Victims of the Grenfell Tower disaster who have been left homeless will be given at least £5,500 from an emergency fund, Theresa May has announced.

After a day of bruising media coverage over Mrs May's response to the fire, Andrea Leadsom told Sky News.

The comments came as former chief fire officer Ronnie King told the Observer newspaper that urgent requests for meetings with ministers and action to tighten rules were stonewalled.

"Why has it taken until now for her to speak?"

But Ms Leadsom, who visited the area in her role as Leader of the Commons, rejected Mr Portillo's criticisms, insisting that Ms May was "absolutely heartbroken" by the blaze and was simply trying to make sure the Government did everything it could to deal with its aftermath.

Ms Leadsom, who challenged Theresa May in the Conservative leadership election past year, said she had come "as Leader of the Commons, on behalf of the Commons" and defended the Prime Minister's decision.

"This fire could have been stopped a long, long time ago". There's not even sprinklers in there.

Talking about his meeting with residents, the mayor described the crowds as "distraught, frustrated and increasingly angry" and demanded the PM chase prosecutions for possible "negligence".

"I mean, it's too late to be honest, right now. I've got friends in that tower", pointing to Grenfell. "Because of people saving money, people are dying".

"The Prime Minister is absolutely heartbroken".

"Understandably, people are desperately traumatised and, yes, people are angry and that is totally understandable".

"If you feel you would like to show your support then please use this link to donate".

Questioned as to whether the anger followed Mrs May's initial visit to the west London site during which she did not meet residents, he said: "We didn't talk directly about that".

Speaking on BBC Question Time that evening, Defense Minister Tobias Ellwood said "security concerns" had prevented the prime minister from meeting victims of the blaze which killed 30 and injured many more.

Later on Friday, she had visited victims of the fire who are being treated at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital.