Mercedes says UK government could change law amid criticism of Kingspan deal – RaceFans

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UK Housing Secretary Michael Gove has warned Mercedes the government may consider changing advertising laws to ban Kingspan logos from appearing on their cars.

In a letter to Mercedes team manager Toto Wolff, Gove said there were “very real questions” as to whether the UK parliament would agree to the team’s partnership with the building materials company. Kingspan construction “reflects the public interest”.

Mercedes’ announcement of a partnership with building materials company Kingspan sparked outrage from Grenfell United, a group of survivors and families of victims of the Grenfell Tower disaster in 2017, in which a fire ravaged a residential tower, killing 72 people.

The group called the sponsorship deal “truly shocking”, citing evidence uncovered during a public inquiry into the tragedy which revealed Kingspan’s management may have misled authorities about security performance. fire their insulation materials which were then installed on the Grenfell Tower. Gove also expressed his disapproval of the deal on social media.

Wolff responded publicly to an open letter from Grenfell United yesterday, apologizing for any ‘additional injury’ the team’s sponsorship deal with Kingspan has caused to families and accepting an offer to meet with the group to discuss his concerns.

In response, Grenfell United said “only meaningful action against those responsible can contribute to a legacy of change our 72 will be remembered for, not the horrific way they died”.

Following Wolff’s letter yesterday, Gove offered a second response to Mercedes, stressing that the UK government and parliament at large will likely consider acting to address the concerns of the Grenfell families.

“It is important to note that as Secretary of State, the planning controls of outdoor advertising space in England are a legal responsibility for me,” Gove said in a letter to Wolff.

“Currently, in general, advertisements displayed on closed grounds, such as in sports stadiums, or those displayed on vehicles, are excluded from the direct control of the competent authorities. My cabinet colleagues and I will constantly and carefully monitor this system to ensure that the advertising regime remains fit for purpose and reflects the public interest.

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“I am aware that there are very real questions as to whether Parliament would support a legislative scheme that would allow a senior participant in a public inquiry into how 72 people lost their lives to publicize their lives. produced to millions of families across the country. ”

Gove urged Mercedes to reconsider the deal with Kingspan, saying it could tarnish the reputation of the team and its driver Lewis Hamilton in the eyes of the British public.

“The achievements of Mercedes and Sir Lewis Hamilton in recent years represent a British achievement of which we are all proud,” continued Gove.

“I hope you will reconsider this business partnership. which threatens to undermine all the good work done by business and sport.

The shadow housing secretary – Labor MP Lisa Nandy – expressed her agreement with Gove’s position on the issue, saying she was “encouraged to see [Gove’s] quick criticism of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula 1 team’s decision to strike a sponsorship deal for the Grand Prix this weekend with a company, Kingspan, which is currently on watch for its role in the Grenfell fire in which 72 people lost their lives. “

Also Nandy Gove and the Conservative Party for accepting ‘millions of pounds in donations from real estate developers responsible for apartments that were covered by the same dangerous ACM [aluminium composite material] cladding since the fire in 2017. “

The second phase of the public inquiry into the 2017 disaster will resume on Monday.

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