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Jeremy Corbyn has suggested using luxury empty properties in Kensington to house victims of the devastating Grenfell Tower fire.

The Labour leader said it is unacceptable for poor people and the homeless to be left looking for somewhere to live while land banking takes place in the area, adding properties should be "requisitioned if necessary".

He suggested the Government could take over the luxury housing to prevent victims having to leave the area.

Many people who have been left without homes were concerned they may be rehoused elsewhere in London but housing minister Alok Sharma today pledged every single family will be rehomed locally.

Mr Corbyn, who visited residents earlier on Thursday, also said hundreds of thousands of people living in tower blocks will be "frightened, traumatised and very, very worried" following the blaze in west London.

He added he "feels very angry" that so many people have lost their lives in a tower block where the fire precautions did not work.

Mr Corbyn's calls were backed by London MP David Lammy, who tweeted: "Lots of homes left vacant...I would like to see them requisitioned by Govnt to rehouse victims."

Mr Corbyn welcomed the Government's decision to establish a public inquiry but insisted it must be speedy and allow residents to fully take part, with legal aid provided if needed.

Home Office Minister Nick Hurd described the Grenfell Tower fire as a "national tragedy" and said a full search was "unlikely to be feasible for some time".

The remarks emerged as MPs gathered in Westminster Hall to question ministers about the blaze.

MPs would normally expect to hear a ministerial statement on a tragedy of this scale in the House of Commons but this is not possible because Parliament has not yet formally reopened following the snap election.

The informal ministerial statement was not initially televised before the cameras were switched on after more than 40 minutes.

Mr Corbyn said Kensington is a "tale of two cities", adding: "The south part of Kensington is incredibly wealthy, it's the wealthiest part of the country.

"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, in order to make sure those residents do get rehoused locally.

"It cannot be acceptable that in London you have luxury buildings and luxury flats kept as land banking for the future while the homeless and the poor look for somewhere to live.

"I think we have to address these issues."

Earlier, Mr Corbyn said: "There are thousands of tower blocks around our country, there are hundreds of thousands of people living in tower blocks all over this country.

"Every single person living in a high-rise building today will be frightened, will be traumatised and will be very, very worried.

"So, setting up a public inquiry - good. Let's make sure it's speedy, it's open and that the residents' groups and residents concerned get the support they need to be represented at that inquiry."

Inside Grenfell Tower 13 show all Inside Grenfell Tower 1/13 2/13 3/13 4/13 5/13 6/13 Water is sprayed on Grenfell Tower in west London after a fire engulfed the 24-storey building PA 7/13 Fire service personnel inside Grenfell Tower in west London PA 8/13 A view inside the Grenfell Tower in west London after a fire engulfed the 24-storey building PA 9/13 Sniffer dogs were sent inside to the tower today PA 10/13 Fire service personnel inside Grenfell Tower in west London after a fire engulfed the 24-storey building PA 11/13 Part of the scorched facade of the Grenfell Tower in London as firefighting continue to damp-down the deadly fire AP 12/13 Grenfell Tower in west London after a fire engulfed the 24-storey building PA 13/13 A view inside the Grenfell Tower in west London after a fire engulfed the 24-storey building PA 1/13 2/13 3/13 4/13 5/13 6/13 Water is sprayed on Grenfell Tower in west London after a fire engulfed the 24-storey building PA 7/13 Fire service personnel inside Grenfell Tower in west London PA 8/13 A view inside the Grenfell Tower in west London after a fire engulfed the 24-storey building PA 9/13 Sniffer dogs were sent inside to the tower today PA 10/13 Fire service personnel inside Grenfell Tower in west London after a fire engulfed the 24-storey building PA 11/13 Part of the scorched facade of the Grenfell Tower in London as firefighting continue to damp-down the deadly fire AP 12/13 Grenfell Tower in west London after a fire engulfed the 24-storey building PA 13/13 A view inside the Grenfell Tower in west London after a fire engulfed the 24-storey building PA

MPs heard 17 people are confirmed to have died and 34 casualties treated in London hospitals as a result of the fire.

Mr Sharma said the Government would "support every family that is affected".

He said: "I can also tell colleagues that in the department we have already started talking to local authorities and housing associations on how we can get help in getting checks done quickly on the buildings that there are currently, so that work is under way and will set out more details about that later on today."

The Tory minister also said: "Can I just be absolutely clear and reiterate what Nick (Hurd) has said is that we're going to be working with the local authority and the Government to guarantee that every single family from Grenfell House will be rehoused in the local area.

"That is a very clear reassurance which I hope colleagues will feel is useful."

Additional reporting by Press Association.