Reports indicate that a cladding, banned in the United States, added to the Grenfell Tower was largely responsible for the intensity of the fire that claimed at least 30 lives earlier this week in North Kensington. It was just £2 cheaper per square meter than an alternative, fire resistant version. Disturbingly, the cladding was added to appease wealthy residents nearby, states Emma Dent Coad, the Kensington MP, and to ‘regenerate’ the area through development.

Anger has risen as the fire increasingly looks less like a tragic accident and more and more like the result of outdated regulations and funding cuts. For example, sprinkler systems are not mandatory in public housing blocks—raising fears that some 4,000 similar blocks are at risk of similar tragedies. It is important to note that black and minority ethnic people are disproportionately housed in such flats.

When a fire erupted in 2009 in another tower block, analysis made clear inadequate measures were being taken to address fire risks. Theresa May’s new chief of staff Gavin Barwell sat on a review last year on updating building safety regulations, but no action was taken. And, when Boris Johnson was Mayor of London he slashed London’s fire services budget, telling a Labour opponent to “get stuffed” when interrogated about this back in 2013. In 2009, he penned an op-ed saying that “health and safety fears are making Britain a safe place place for extremely stupid people.”

In the face of rising public rage, marked by many intense protests, the increasingly popular head of Labour Jeremy Corbyn has called for nearby and empty flats to be “requisitioned if necessary” to house those displaced by the fire. South Kensington is the wealthiest part of the country, and the flats in question are not homes, per se, but rather assets that remain empty the majority of the year. Other MPs have voiced support for requisitioning and, according to a poll by YouGov, a significant majority (59%) of the British population are in favor. 33% of those polled “strongly support” the move. Others find the idea too radical.