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The suggestion was put forward by Jeremy Corbyn earlier today after he visited the site of the fatal blaze and spoke to families who continue to search for loved ones. Speaking to a group of MPs, the Labour leader said: “Kensington is a tale of two cities. The south part of Kensington is incredibly wealthy, it’s the wealthiest part of the whole country.

GETTY Seizing vacant houses to rehome Grenfell Tower residents would likely face challenges in the courts

“The ward where this fire took place is, I think, the poorest ward in the whole country and properties must be found – requisitioned if necessary – to make sure those residents do get re-housed locally. “It can’t be acceptable that in London we have luxury buildings and luxury flats left empty as land banking for the future while the homeless and the poor look for somewhere to live.” He suggested that “requisitioning” vacant properties in London’s most expensive borough could be a solution to the shortage of available accommodation for those who lost their homes. His call was supported by more moderate Labour figures including Harriet Harman and David Lammy.

London fire: Grenfell aftermath latest images Thu, June 15, 2017 At least 30 people have been confirmed dead and dozens missing, after the 24 storey residential Grenfell Tower block in Latimer Road was engulfed in flames in the early hours of June 14. The number of fatalities are expected to rise Play slideshow BBC 1 of 52 Inside Grenfell Tower

GETTY Jeremy Corbyn hugs councillor Mushtaq Lasharie as he arrives at St Clement's Church in west London

It can’t be acceptable that in London we have luxury buildings and luxury flats left empty as land banking for the future while the homeless and the poor look for somewhere to live Jeremy Corbyn

Mrs Harman, the former Labour leader, tweeted: “Loads of empty flats (land banks) in Kensington. @jeremycorbyn right that govt should requisition to rehouse Grenfell survivors.” Meanwhile, former minister David Lammy added: “Lots of homes left vacant in Kensington & Chelsea by overseas investors. I would like to see them requisitioned by Govnt to rehouse victims.” Many of the pricey properties in the Kensington borough are believed to be owned by foreign millionaires, who only live there for a small part of the year.

GETTY The average house price in some Kensington streets is more than £10million

However, for any seizure of the vacant properties to take place, the Government would have to issue some kind of compulsory purchase order which would almost certainly be challenged in the courts. With anger rising as locals urge the Government to provide answers to the questions raised by the atrocity, Theresa May has come under intense criticism after she appeared to ignore residents when she visited Grenfell Tower earlier. She was rebuked for only speaking to police and firefighters when she visited the scene of the devastation today as she said the country “owed it to the families” to uncover the truth about what happened. The Prime Minister said: “We need to know what happened, we need to know an explanation. “We owe that to the families, to the people who have lost loved ones and the homes in which they lived.

TWITTER Harriet Harman's tweet in support of Mr Corbyn

REUTERS Jeremy Corbyn met with local residents earlier today when he visited the site of the atrocity