Starmer Demands Reform Party Sack Housing Spokesperson After Grenfell Comments
Keir Starmer has called on Nigel Farage to remove Simon Dudley, Reform's newly appointed housing spokesperson, following controversial remarks about the Grenfell Tower fire. Dudley described the 2017 tragedy as a "tragedy" but added that "everyone dies in the end," sparking widespread criticism.
Simon Dudley, who previously led Homes England, joined Reform in February as Nigel Farage announced plans to recruit more experts to advise the party. However, Dudley’s comments during an interview have drawn significant backlash.
When questioned about the fire and subsequent safety regulations, Dudley stated:
"That was a tragedy. It was a failure. Sadly, you know, everyone dies in the end. It’s just how you go, right?"
He further argued:
"Extracting Grenfell from the statistics, actually people dying in house fires is rare. Many, many more people die on the roads driving cars – but we’re not making cars illegal, so why are we stopping houses being built?"
The Prime Minister joined the condemnation of Dudley’s remarks, calling them shameful. Starmer said on X:
"Nigel Farage should do the decent thing and sack him."
The Grenfell Next of Kin group, representing families of the victims, also responded strongly:
"The death of our parents, partners, children, siblings grandparents and grandchildren in the most horrific circumstances was gross negligent manslaughter, NOT fate. Dudley and Reform must apologise to the Grenfell Next of Kin families."
Steve Reed, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, described Dudley’s comments as "beyond the pale."
Reform Party Responds to Controversy
A spokesperson for Reform stated:
"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 overregulation – which can slow the delivery of new homes – and ensuring that more homes are built safely without too much red tape."
Background on Simon Dudley
Simon Dudley, formerly a Conservative supporter with a background in international banking including roles at HSBC, was chair of the Ebbsfleet Development Corporation until July last year. In this role, he oversaw the creation of a new town comparable in size to Chichester. He was also involved in the Conservative Party’s treasurers department as recently as October, appointed by party chair Kevin Hollinrake.
Upon joining Reform, Dudley commented:
"For too long, the two main parties have failed to deliver housing for Brits. They’ve pursued a disastrous combination of extreme levels of immigration with a severe lack of new good quality homes."
