What is really going on in politics? Get our daily email briefing straight to your inbox Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

The "white upper-middle class" judge leading the Grenfell fire inquiry should spend the night in a tower block so he knows what it's like, an MP has said.

David Lammy warned Sir Martin Moore-Bick must move fast to get on the side of victims he doesn't "look like", adding: "Whose side will he be on?"

Theresa May chose the 70-year-old retired judge to probe the deaths of at least 80 people in the west London block on the recommendation of the Lord Chief Justice.

Critics pointed out a 2014 ruling, overturned by the Supreme Court, in which Sir Martin let a council move a mum 50 miles from home - something her lawyers branded "social cleansing".

Mr Lammy, who lost his friend Khadija Saye in the blaze, told Sky News' Sophy Ridge on Sunday: "Politicians have to always be careful of being in a critical place in relation to the judiciary.

(Image: PA)

"But he is a white upper-middle class man who I suspect has never ever visited a tower block housing estate and certainly hasn't slept a night on the 20th floor of one. I hope he will do that in the days ahead."

Mr Lammy added: "The job is not just to be independent and judicious, I'm sure he's eminently legally qualified, of course he is.

"It is also to be empathetic and to walk with these people on this jopurney and sit with them and understand their lives were in the hands of the state and something badly, badly failed.

"It's a shame we couldn't find a woman to lead the inquiry or indeed an ethnic minority to lead the inquiry in 2017.

"I think the victims will also say to themselves when push comes to shove, there are some powerful people here - contractors, sub-contractors, local authorities, governments - and they look like this judge. Whose side will he be on?

(Image: Rex Features)

"So he needs to get close to those victims and survivors very very quickly adn establish he is after the truth and fearless and independent and he won't be swayed because he too is part of the establishment."

Despite the chaos on the ground, a Tory minister today denied 'commissioners' would seize control of flailing Kensington and Chelsea Council.

Minister for London Greg Hands said it would be "quite a big thing" to send in a hit squad, demanded by London mayor Sadiq Khan , even after the councils' leader and chief executive both quit.

"It's important for local democracy to have its say," he told the BBC.

"It's quite a big thing for a government to do to go in and put a council on special measures, there's almost a quasi-judicial role there by the Secretary of State."

(Image: BBC)

He insisted there are "some very capable councillors in Kensington and Chelsea" and he was waiting for a new leader to be elected.

But Mr Hands did not deny having a role in forcing out council leader Nick Paget-Brown.

"I’m not going to comment on that," he said. "As a local MP I speak to my council leader frequently as I think all MPs do."

Rent was finally suspended today for residents in Grenfell's shadow who were forced to leave their homes due to a lack of utilities.

Labour Shadow Communities Secretary Andrew Gwynne said: "It is unacceptable that this has taken until now."

(Image: AFP)

Meanwhile the government today announced no one will be prosecuted for illegally subletting their flat at Grenfell Tower.

Ministers have already said immigration checks will not be carried out on those who lived in the block.

Officials claim they cannot know the true death toll because of incomplete records of who lived in Grenfell Tower.

Communities Secretary Sajid Javid said: "Supporting those affected by the tragic events at Grenfell Tower has been the absolute priority of the Government.

"That includes making sure that loved ones still missing are identified. Therefore I would urge those with information to come forward without fear of prosecution."