Companies involved in supplying and installing the cladding at Grenfell are seeking immunity from compensation before they give evidence, it has been revealed.

This news has sparked severe criticism, with UK union Unite describing the request as "absolutely outrageous".

Unite assistant general secretary for legal affairs Howard Beckett said: "The corporate manslaughter legislation in the UK is already weak enough, without giving companies, who could have been culpable in the deaths of 72 innocent people, immunity from prosecution.

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"If the attorney general upholds this request it will be a mockery of justice.

"If the companies involved in installing the cladding knew it was flammable and unsafe and then allowed it to be installed anyway they should of course be prosecuted.

"This is a key test of whether the government wants a proper inquiry which reveals the truth or if they are simply involved in a whitewashing exercise.

"The validity of the inquiry has already been undermined with the issue of cladding not being considered in its first phase and also the Benita Mehra controversy.

"If immunity is granted then the victims of this terrible and entirely preventable tragedy will lose all confidence in the justice system."

Unite is supporting 65 participants at the inquiry into the Grenfell fire.

(CM/MH)