Lord Pickles has denied presiding over an “anti-red-tape” culture while communities secretary, leading to the Grenfell Tower disaster.
Speaking to the inquiry into the 2017 fire, which killed 72 people, Pickles was repeatedly questioned on an e-mail circulated to other members of the department in June 2011 by a press officer.
The e-mail appeared to include a proposed press release which announced: “Pickles introduces new red tape test for department.”
It added: “All future policy at DCLG will be subject to new bureaucracy busting tests as ministers introduce new red tape challenge to policies.”
The press release also heralded the “2 out 1 in” scheme and said the department was “cutting down red tape regulation for the construction industry”.
After showing the e-mail on screen, the inquiry’s counsel, Richard Millett QC asked Pickles: “Would you agree that this shows quite some zeal on your part not only for the deregulatory agenda in general but to place the building regulations firmly within in.”
Pickles called the e-mail “thin gruel” and denied it was government policy, saying the e-mail related to “someone who is seeking information to do a series of press articles”, adding: “Press articles do not form part of government policy.”
Millett said: “Your department was always subject to the deregulatory agenda and you are now seeking to recast that narrative and to underplay what was in truth an enthusiasm by your government for a deregulatory agenda, which led to a complete absence of proper checks and balances so far as concerns life safety.”
Pickles replied: “I think that would be unkind.”
He then wrongly cited that 96 people were killed in the fire and said he did not think he would have done anything different during his time as minister because “I don’t think it would have made any difference whatsoever”.
He also complained earlier that the inquiry was taking up too much of his time, before apologising for appearing “discourteous”.
