Reform UK has dismissed its housing spokesperson after controversial remarks he made about the Grenfell Tower disaster sparked widespread criticism. Simon Dudley, who joined the party earlier this year after previously holding senior roles at Homes England and the Ebbsfleet Development Corporation, came under fire comments made in an interview with Inside Housing magazine. While describing the 2017 Grenfell fire as a “tragedy,” he added that “everyone dies in the end,” a statement that drew strong backlash from campaigners and politicians alike.

During the same interview, Dudley criticised building safety measures introduced after Grenfell, arguing that current regulations were ineffective and were hindering housing development. A spokesperson for families affected by the disaster condemned his remarks as deeply insensitive and ill-informed. Representatives of bereaved relatives stressed that safety regulations are essential and have proven life-saving in other European countries with stricter cladding rules. They rejected the suggestion that such measures are responsible for delays in housebuilding, calling the comments dismissive of the scale and cause of the tragedy.

They also emphasised that the deaths at Grenfell were not inevitable, but the result of serious failings, describing the incident as “gross negligent manslaughter” rather than a matter of fate.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage confirmed Dudley’s removal from his role, stating that he was “no longer a spokesman for the party.” He added that the appointment had been made under the party’s housing team leadership and that the situation had now been addressed. However when asked by a journalist if he would apologise over the comments on behalf of Dudley he refused, saying sarcastically, "I'll apologise for everything in the past couple hundred years." He added, "This is modern journalism, 'apologise, apologise, apologise.'"

The controversy prompted criticism across the political spectrum. Housing Secretary Steve Reed described the comments as “beyond the pale,” while Green Party MP Siân Berry said they reflected “a new low” and demonstrated a lack of respect for the victims and survivors of Grenfell.

Prior to Dudley’s dismissal, a Reform UK spokesperson had defended his broader argument, suggesting that while safety is essential, excessive regulation can slow the delivery of new homes and worsen housing shortages. They argued that a balance must be struck between ensuring safety and avoiding unnecessary bureaucracy. However, the party later acknowledged that Dudley’s specific remarks about Grenfell were inappropriate and shocking.

The issue also drew intervention from Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who publicly urged Farage to remove Dudley, calling on him to “do the decent thing.”

The Grenfell Tower fire in 2017 claimed 72 lives and led to a major public inquiry, which concluded that the disaster was entirely preventable. The inquiry identified longstanding systemic failures in building regulations, along with serious shortcomings across government bodies, local authorities, and the construction industry.

Dudley had also argued in his interview that deaths in house fires are relatively rare compared to other risks, such as road accidents, questioning whether current regulations were proportionate. His remarks, however, have been widely criticised for drawing false comparisons and minimising the significance of the Grenfell tragedy.