The Grenfell inquiry has been suspended until at least February, following a sharp rise in Covid-19 cases in London.

A statement on the inquries official website stated: “it was a difficult decision, but the increase in transmissibility of the new variant of Coronavirus means that there is a significant increase in the risk of infection.

“The Panel is keen to maintain the momentum of the Phase 2 hearings, and so has made the decision to switch to remote hearings as soon as possible. The Panel recognises that the subject of remote hearings was fully explored with core participants last spring during the first 2020 lockdown, and that it was not in favour of that option for the reasons it gave. However, the Panel has decided it is better to have remote hearings than no hearings at all while the current restrictions are in place.”

Since the pandemic, the Grenfell inquiry had been operating in person, albeit with a smaller attendance than before. The delay means that there is now a risk of the hearing continuing in to 2022.