FPA Managing Director, Gavin Dunn has shared his thoughts on the results of the UK general election, which saw Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer become the new prime minister.
On 4 July 2024, Labour took a majority share with 412 seats, marking a new era of government with Keir Starmer at the helm.
“The Fire Protection Association wishes to congratulate Keir Starmer and the Labour Party on their win in the UK general election. We wish them well in forming the next government,” Gavin said.
Starmer has since announced his new Cabinet, which includes Angela Rayner as Deputy Prime Minister and the new Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing, and Communities. Moving forward, her role, alongside other officials, will act as a fundamental bridge between government and the fire safety industry.
“Seven years on from the Grenfell Tower tragedy and with the final Grenfell Tower Inquiry report due to be published in September, we hope and stand ready to support the new government. We urge the new administration to urgently address the numerous challenges needed to improve fire safety and property protection within UK buildings,” Gavin added.
“We believe now is the time to resolve many issues surrounding the regulation of fire safety professionals, ensuring they demonstrate competency effectively, and assessing the suitability of construction products used in buildings to ensure they are genuinely safe and resilient for generations to come.
“The new government claims to be one of change and public service. We believe all barriers to meaningful progress on building safety and property protection for the public good are now removed. We encourage the government to act swiftly to build momentum and drive the many changes our sector knows are necessary.”
Affirming the FPA’s key positioning as the UK’s national fire safety organisation, he goes on to say:
“As the FPA, we stand ready to support this change, and I have no doubt our community of members and stakeholders are also prepared to assist. We will continue to provide research insights, disseminate knowledge, and offer a range of services to help the market do the right thing. We aim to ensure quality and ethical actors can operate effectively in the marketplace, and we stand ready to support the government in the regulation of the sector if this is the chosen direction.
“On behalf of my colleagues here at the FPA, and our many members and partners, we extend our congratulations on Labour’s election success. We look forward to seeing who will assume key ministerial roles in the areas of fire and building safety. We encourage these ministers to be bold in advancing this agenda as soon as possible.”
The FPA is currently in the process of finalising its policy manifesto, which will be released in the coming weeks. It will outline the FPA’s commitment to collaboration with both government and industry stakeholders to safeguard people and property from fire-related and other risks.