Grenfell Tower will be demolished, Angela Rayner has confirmed.

The demolition is expected to take “around two years” and be carried out “sensitively”, the government said.

The official announcement comes after the deputy prime minister met with campaigners to tell them of the decision on Wednesday evening – sparking an angry reaction.

Grenfell United has accused Ms Rayner of “ignoring” the voices of people who lost family in the fire in June 2017, which killed 72 people.

Read more: Grenfell Tower – what happens now?

The disaster was Britain’s deadliest residential fire since the Second World War and began a national reckoning over the safety and conditions of social housing and tower blocks.

There have been discussions over the years about how best to commemorate the tragedy.

Engineering experts have said that while the tower remains stable, and it is safe for people to live, work and study nearby, its condition will worsen over time and there is no realistic prospect of bringing it back into use.

In September last year, the public inquiry into Grenfell found “systematic dishonesty” of firms who made and sold cladding contributed to the horrific fire.

Why is Grenfell Tower being demolished?

In its announcement of the demolition, the government said Ms Rayner was told by engineers that the tower is “significantly damaged”.

While it “remains stable”, this is due to the supports put in place after the fire.

Engineers said it is also not “practicable” to keep many of the damaged storeys as part of a long-term memorial.

“Taking the engineering advice into account the deputy prime minister concluded that it would not be fair to keep some floors of the building that are significant to some families, whilst not being able to do so for others and knowing that, for some, this would be deeply upsetting,” the government said.

How will the demolition take place?

The government says it wants to take the next steps “respectfully and carefully”, with continued support for the community around Grenfell.

It said no changes will take place before the eighth anniversary of the fire in June this year.

The next step is to find someone to carry out the demolition.

A “specialist contractor” will be found to come up with a “detailed plan” for taking down the tower.

The government estimates it will take around two years to “sensitively take down the tower through a process of careful and sensitive progressive deconstruction that happens behind the wrapping”.

Any leftover materials from the tower and its surrounding communal areas can be carefully removed and then returned as part of any memorial, if the community so chooses, according to the government.

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Community reaction

Ahead of the decision being made publicly, Ms Rayner wrote to families, survivors and surrounding residents to tell them of the planned demolition.

The government says it has “prioritised” engaging with the community, and that Ms Rayner has been offering to speak with them and listen to their views for several months. The deputy prime minister also met with community groups, residents’ associations, schools and faith leaders.

These conversations have made it clear the tower “remains a sacred site” – however it is also clear “there is not a consensus about what should happen to it”.

The government said that for some the tower remains a “symbol of all they lost” and helps ensure “the tragedy is never forgotten and can act as a reminder of the need for justice and accountability”.

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The visibility of the tower also “helps some people continue to feel close to those they lost”.

But the announcement added that for some, the tower is a “painful reminder of what happened and is having a daily impact on some members of the community”.

There’s major travel disruption in Greater Manchester after a car smashed through a rail bridge and fell on the tracks.

The incident happened about 2am near Regent Road roundabout in Eccles, Salford.

A man in his 30s was arrested on suspicion of drink-driving and taken to hospital with injuries that aren’t believed to be serious.

No other vehicles were involved.

The road reopened at 7.30am and pictures later showed the car being lifted away, but rail firms said problems were likely for much of the day.

Network Rail’s page on the incident said no trains would run through Eccles until the line is cleared.

It means services between Newton-le-Willows / Wigan North Western and Manchester Oxford Road / Manchester Victoria will be cancelled, revised or diverted.

TransPennine Express services are not running between Liverpool Lime Street and Manchester Victoria.

People going between those cities are advised to travel via Warrington Central instead.

Northern trains are also affected between Liverpool and Manchester Airport, and Chester and Leeds to Manchester Victoria.

Transport for Wales routes from Chester / Llandudno to Manchester Airport / Manchester Oxford Road are impacted, as are Holyhead to Manchester Airport services.

Replacement buses are running in some areas and tickets are being accepted on other services.

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A Network Rail spokesperson said engineers were “assessing the situation in order to repair the damaged cables as quickly as possible” but the line was likely to stay closed for most of the day.

They added: “We’re really sorry to any passengers affected by this incident and urge anyone planning to travel by train between Liverpool and Manchester to plan ahead and check with their train operator for the latest travel information.”

A man who shook his partner’s toddler to death after staying up late playing video games has been jailed for life with a minimum of 25 years.

Paula Roberts left her son Charlie, aged one year and 10 months, in the care of her partner Christopher Stockton at her Darlington home while she went for an eye test, Teesside Crown Court heard.

Within minutes of her leaving, Stockton called 999 to report the toddler had gone “floppy”.

Stockton, 38, who is not Charlie’s father, was convicted of the boy’s murder and child cruelty in December.

Sentencing Stockton, Mr Justice Goss said Charlie, who was born two months prematurely and had difficulty communicating, was particularly vulnerable.

The judge said only Stockton knew why he inflicted the fatal blow which caused brain injuries similar to those seen in a car crash, a crushing incident or a fall of several storeys.

“You have robbed his family of the joy of bringing up a child and of sharing life events with him. No court can undo the harm you have caused,” he said.

Roberts was sentenced to four years in prison on Friday.

Having initially denied a child cruelty charge, she eventually admitted neglecting her son by failing to get Charlie medical treatment for bruising caused by Stockton over several weeks.

During the police investigation into Charlie’s death, detectives uncovered a series of photographs on Roberts’ phone which showed him with bruises and injuries to different parts of his body.

Several messages on her phone stated she would seek medical help for her boy – but she never did.

“You now recognise that you contributed to his neglect, in effect turning a blind eye to what you must have known was the reality of the situation,” the judge told Roberts.

“You remain a risk to any children in your care.”

Richard Herrmann, defending Roberts, said she had struggled with mental health issues.

She wept as Mr Herrmann said: “She has to live with the knowledge that had she acted differently it would not have happened.”

The court heard Roberts was suspicious enough about Stockton that she set up a spy camera above her son’s cot.

But the 41-year-old stayed in a relationship with him, even after she voiced her concerns about Stockton to her brother.

Stockton, who had moved in with Roberts and Charlie just seven days earlier, was in sole charge of the boy on 12 January 2024.

He was off work ill and had stayed up into the early hours playing Xbox games, and must have snapped that morning, the court was told.

Stockton inflicted a severe head injury on Charlie which caused widespread bleeding on the brain. The toddler died in hospital the next day.

Nicholas Lumley KC, prosecuting, told jurors Stockton “shook or threw him with such violence, deliberately and forcefully harming little Charlie”.

Stockton rang 999 and could be heard on a recording repeatedly saying “come on mate” and “wakey wakey” to Charlie, who was not breathing.

He was to tell paramedics, doctors and the police that Charlie had choked on a biscuit and that he patted the child on the back and stuck his fingers down the toddler’s throat.

Jamie Hill KC, defending Stockton, told the court he had no previous convictions, the murder was not premeditated and there was no intention to kill.

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Following Stockton’s conviction, Charlie’s father Barry Greenwell said: “Charlie was a much-loved son and grandson who has been taken away needlessly, and has left the whole family with a void that will never be filled.

“As a family we are processing the recent events and are trying to come to terms with the verdict and information given that has been deeply disturbing to ourselves.”

Detective Superintendent Chris Barker, who led the investigation, said: “To install a spy camera, as Paula Roberts did, means there must have been concerns about him.

“If you have concerns about those caring for your children, you must act, speak out or ask for help.

“Charlie had everything to live for, but his life was cruelly cut short.”