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Now Grenfell executive WILL talk to inquiry: French cladding boss bows to pressure and agrees to evidence to public inquiry after previously saying he would only take the stand if he could dictate line of questioning

A Grenfell cladding boss has bowed to pressure to give evidence to the public inquiry into the tragedy.

Claude Schmidt, an executive at the firm that made the panels involved in the deadly tower block blaze, previously said he would only take the witness stand if he could dictate the line of questioning he would face.

But the inquiry into the Grenfell Tower fire, which killed 72 people in 2017, confirmed yesterday that the Frenchman would now be appearing when remote hearings resume next month.

However, several former employees of Arconic, manufacturers of the flammable cladding panels that the inquiry found were the main cause of the blaze, are still refusing to give evidence. 

They have been accused of hiding behind a French statute that prevents the disclosure of commercial information to foreign proceedings.

Claude Schmidt, a French Grenfell cladding boss, has bowed to pressure to give evidence to the public inquiry into the tragedy. Pictured: A sign in remembrance of the tragic fire

Claude Schmidt, a French Grenfell cladding boss, has bowed to pressure to give evidence to the public inquiry into the tragedy. Pictured: A sign in remembrance of the tragic fire

A spokesman for the public inquiry said: 'Claude Schmidt has now agreed to attend to give oral evidence.' 

Campaign group Grenfell United said: 'We continue to call for all Arconic witnesses to attend – 72 people lost their lives and they are forever in our hearts. The truth must come out.'

Building safety minister Stephen Greenhalgh has called on the witnesses to 'step up to the plate' rather than 'hide behind' the statute.

Before Christmas, Grenfell survivors drove an electronic billboard to the French embassy in Knightsbridge, London, urging the French government to tell the witnesses to give evidence.

A fire which spread rapidly through cladding at the Grenfell tower block killed 72 people in 2017 [File photo]

A fire which spread rapidly through cladding at the Grenfell tower block killed 72 people in 2017 File

The Guardian quoted a French official source last month as saying: 'We have informed the inquiry and the UK Foreign Office of our position. The purpose of the blocking isn't to obstruct the emergence of the truth or to guarantee immunity for French nationals.

'This is not a way to evade responsibility.'

Earlier this month, the Guardian reported Mr Schmidt would only give evidence if 'certain conditions', which have not been made public, were met, but that the inquiry deemed them 'largely unacceptable'.

Proceedings are due to resume remotely on February 8.

Mr Schmidt's evidence is due to be given through a French language interpreter and could take up to four days.

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