<P> The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, criticised safety protocols, in particular those telling people to stay in their flats until rescued . This advice presumed that the building's structure could contain a fire within a single flat, but in this case the fire was spreading rapidly via the building's exterior . </P> <P> Since 2013, the residents' organisation Grenfell Action Group had repeatedly expressed concern about fire safety, saying in November 2016 that only a catastrophic fire would force the block's management to adequately address fire precautions and maintenance of fire - related systems . </P> <P> On 16 June 2017, Prime Minister Theresa May, who had been criticised for failing to meet Grenfell Tower residents following the tragedy, announced a £ 5 million fund for those affected by the fire . All those made homeless were to receive an initial down payment of £ 5,500, with each household to be given at least £ 500 in cash and £ 5,000 paid into an account . On 18 June the government announced that a new disaster management team was taking over, acknowledging that the initial response by the state, both locally and nationally, was inadequate . On 21 June, the government announced that 68 new flats in the local borough were to be made available to survivors . </P> <P> A total of 151 homes were destroyed in the tower and surrounding area . The incident ranks as the deadliest structural fire in the United Kingdom since the start of the 20th century, when detailed records began . The death toll is higher than the Bradford City stadium fire of 1985, which killed 56 people . </P>

Who was in government when grenfell towers was built