A public inquiry aims to get to the truth as a crucial step in delivering justice. No inquiry can achieve that if it doesn’t win the trust of those directly affected by the tragedy under investigation. But after the first hearings of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry this week, there is a real danger that it is already failing to win hearts and minds. Prime Minister Theresa May has to act swiftly to ensure that this is not the case.

Six months since the fire swept all 24 storeys of Grenfell Tower, killing 71 and displacing hundreds, doubt and deep scepticism about the establishment from the survivors is real and to be expected.

At a packed meeting in the House of Commons this week I heard from residents describing their ongoing suffering. Many of the survivors are still living in hotel rooms. They still will be on Christmas morning.

One described traumatised children hiding behind the sofas still in shock. Others worry about the dangerous consequences of ongoing lack of mental health provision for people who suffered what was described as the “torture” of watching friends and neighbours “cremated”, and those who will now be without their families for the first time this Christmas. Tragically, some still have been unable to even bury their loved ones.

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Distrust would come from anyone who has suffered what one Grenfell survivor described as the “systemic failure, neglect and self-interest” of local and national governments, both before and after the fire. One powerful testimony described how the communities were having to teach the authorities how to be “human”.

This is the context in which the inquiry must win the trust of the survivors and bereaved families as well as the wider country. The inquiry cannot assume this trust and certainly cannot demand it. And it is clear to me after hearing from affected families and their legal representatives that for many the inquiry hasn’t yet earned it.

At the start of the summer, Theresa May said that no stone would be left unturned and appointed Sir Martin Moore-Bick to head the Grenfell inquiry. Undoubtedly Sir Martin, a former Lord Justice of Appeal, has the necessary legal experience to chair such an inquiry. His legal career spanned nearly five decades before retiring last year.

But survivors are expressing concern that no one person alone has the expertise or understanding to reflect the diverse backgrounds and the broad experiences of the hundreds of people who lived in Grenfell Tower. That too is true.

The Inquiries Act 2005 takes this into account by allowing a panel, and not just an individual, to oversee inquiries. The Prime Minister, as the minister who established this inquiry, has so far chosen not to exercise these powers of appointing a panel. But she still could – and she should.

In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire Show all 51 1 /51 In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire Police have released images from inside the tower where at least 58 people have died Metropolitan Police In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire A still from a video shared by polices what appears to be a stationary bicycle sitting among the ashes In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire A still from a video shared by police shows the remnants of a burnt-out bathroom In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire Picture showing the lifts on an unknown floor Metropolitan Police In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire Emergency crews outside the front entrance to the tower Metropolitan Police In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire Fire crews inspecting flats in the burnt out tower London Metropolitan Police In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire Grenfell Tower is seen in the distance PA In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire A drone flies near the scene of the fire which destroyed the Grenfell Tower block REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire 'Theresa May Stay Away' message written on the messages of support at Latymer Community Church for those affected by the fire Ray Tang/REX In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire An aerial view of the area surrounding Grenfall tower Getty In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire Donated shoes sit in the Westway Sports Centre near to the site of the Grenfell Tower fire Getty Images In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire Messages of support for those affected by the massive fire in Grenfell Tower are displayed on a well near the tower in London AP In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire A local resident stands on her balcony by the gutted Grenfell Tower in Latimer Road Getty Images In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire Messages of condolence are left at a relief centre close to the scene of the fire that broke out at Grenfell Tower, EPA In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire A police officer stands by a security cordon outside Latimer Road station Getty Images In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire Firemen examine the scorched facade of the Grenfell Tower in London on a huge ladder AP In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire A search dog is led through the rubble of the Grenfell Tower in London as firefighting continue to damp-down the deadly fire AP In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn comforts a local resident (name not given) at St Clement's Church in west London where volunteers have provided shelter and support for people affected by the fire at Grenfell Tower David Mirzoeff/PA In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn hugs councillor Mushtaq Lasharie as he arrives at St Clement's Church in Latimer Road, where volunteers have provided shelter and support for people affected by the fire at Grenfell Tower Getty Images In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn meeting staff and volunteers at St Clementís Church in Latimer Road David Mirzoeff/PA In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire Firefighters with a dog walk around the base of the Grenfell Tower REUTERS/Peter Nicholls In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire Emotions run high as people attend a candle lit vigil outside Notting Hill Methodist Church near the 24 storey residential Grenfell Tower block in Latimer Road, West London Getty Images In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire Debris hangs from the blackened exterior of Grenfell Tower Getty Images In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire A woman speaks to Mayor of London Sadiq Khan outside Notting Hill Methodist Church near Grenfell Tower in west London after a fire engulfed the 24-storey building Yui Mok/PA Wire In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire A woman holds a missing person posters near the Grenfell Tower block REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire Sadiq Khan speaking with a resident James Gourley/REX In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire Ken Livingstone walks near the scene of the Grenfell Tower fire Getty Images In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire Mayor of London Sadiq Khan is confronted by Kai Ramos, 7, near Grenfell Tower in west London after a fire engulfed the 24-storey building Yui Mok/PA Wire In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire Mayor of London Sadiq Khan speaks to a woman outside Notting Hill Methodist Church near Grenfell Tower Yui Mok/PA Wire In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire Volunteers distribute aid near Grenfell Tower Getty Images In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire Family and friends of missing Jessica Urbano, 12, wearing photographs of Jessica pinned to their t-shirts gather near Grenfell Tower EPA In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire Family and friends of missing Jessica Urbano, 12, wearing photographs of Jessica pinned to their t-shirts gather near Grenfell Tower EPA In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire Family and friends of missing Jessica Urbano, 12, wearing photographs of Jessica pinned to their t-shirts gather near Grenfell Tower EPA In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire People attend a vigil at Notting Hill Methodist Church near Grenfell Tower Getty Images In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire People gather to observe a vigil outside St Clement's Church following the blaze at Grenfell Tower Getty Images In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire People light candles as they observe a vigil outside St Clement's Church following the blaze at Grenfell Tower Getty Images In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire People attend a vigil at Notting Hill Methodist Church near Grenfell Tower Getty Images In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire A man distributes food from the back of a van near the scene of the fire which destroyed the Grenfell Tower block REUTERS/Paul Hackett In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire A firefighter is cheered near the scene of the fire which destroyed the Grenfell Tower block REUTERS/Paul Hackett In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire A T-shirt with a written message from the London Fire Brigade hangs from a fence near The Grenfell Tower block REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire A young girl on her way to lay flowers near Grenfell Tower Getty Images In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire The remains of residential tower block Grenfell Tower are seen from Dixon House a nearby tower block Getty In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire Volunteers prepare supplies for people affected by the Grenfell Tower block which was destroyed in a fire REUTERS/Neil Hall In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire Volunteers move a car to make space for a lorry picking up supplies for people affected by the Grenfell Tower block REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire People distribute boxes of food near the scene of the fire which destroyed the Grenfell Tower bloc REUTERS/Paul Hackett In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire A woman touches a missing poster for 12-year-old Jessica Urbano on a tribute wall after laying flowers on the side of Latymer Community Church next to the fire-gutted Grenfell Tower AP In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire A man looks at messages written on a wall near the scene of the fire which destroyed the Grenfell Tower block REUTERS/Paul Hackett In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire Candles and messages of condolence near where the fire broke out at Grenfell Tower EPA In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire Police carry a stretcher towards Grenfell Tower Rick Findler/PA Wire In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire Emergency services at Grenfell Tower Rick Findler/PA Wire In Pictures: Grenfell Tower after the fire Police carry out a body from Grenfell Tower in west London after a fire engulfed the 24-storey building Rick Findler/PA Wire

Bereaved families and survivors say that additional panel members sitting alongside the judge would avert a collapse of confidence in the inquiry’s ability to discover the truth. They handed a petition into Downing Street calling for such a panel. It is a demand that Labour has supported from the outset and will continue to push for.

The Stephen Lawrence Inquiry marked a watershed in uncovering institutional racism. It had a similar type of panel to that being demanded now. Chaired by Sir William Macpherson, a retired judge, it also included the first black archbishop in the Church of England, John Sentamu; a former police chief, Thomas Cook; and a respected anti-racist campaigner, Richard Stone. This panel reflected a wealth of relevant experiences. That diversity was its strength. It forged a legitimacy that must be replicated with the Grenfell inquiry.

The Prime Minister has repeatedly stated that she supports the inquiry getting to the truth, but now refuses to take the steps needed for survivors to have confidence it will. She gives the impression that it is for the judge alone to decide if the panel can be widened. But it is for politicians to take political decisions. We cannot allow the judge to be used as a proxy for frustration at the Government and authorities. The Prime Minister needs to take responsibility and stop passing the buck.

Six months on, the Government must demonstrate that it truly understands that survivors feel the establishment has let them down by being distant and unresponsive. For the bereaved families and survivors to have faith that the inquiry will lead to justice being done, that means appointing a broad Grenfell inquiry panel.