1/7 The Government’s handling of the cladding crisis has lacked any sense of grip or urgency. We have deep concerns that people are being put at risk, trapped in flammable buildings for a third lockdown, with leaseholders placed in an impossible position. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/uk/labour-launches-bid-save-residents-ruinous-cladding-costs/

2/7 Ministers promised over15 times that cladding costs wouldn't be passed on to leaseholders, but have broken their promises. Labour has tabled more amendments to the #FireSafetyBill to lock into law the principle that leaseholders are protected from unfair fire safety costs.

3/7 Labour is supportive of other amendments which help achieve this goal. The amendment tabled by McPartland and Smith provides welcome clarity on the specific costs that would be prevented from being passed on to leaseholders, but Labour has sought to go further.

4/7 As currently drafted, the McPartland and Smith amendment would not have covered blocks like Grenfell - where flammable cladding has been added at some stage following the building of the block. It only applies to defects in the original design of buildings.

5/7 The Grenfell Tower was built in the 1970s, but the flammable cladding was added in 2017. Our amendment would ensure that the cost of fire safety problems from refurbishment jobs, like the cladding on the Grenfell tower, cannot be passed on to leaseholders.

6/7 Labour’s amendments also include new clauses so that the Bill protects leaseholders from the day it comes into law, instead of an unknown date in the future.

7/7 And Labour's amendments ensure that if the Fire Safety Order is extended in the future, the Secretary of State must publish an analysis of the financial implications for leaseholders.

I have been working closely with @ThangamMP @MikeAmesburyMP @NickTorfaen and @Keir_Starmer on this. #Cladding #FireSafety #BuildingSafety