Sadiq Khan has attacked the Government’s “careless approach” to the Grenfell Inquiry, after a member of the investigation was linked to the company that made the flammable cladding on the tower.

Engineer Benita Mehra was chosen to sit on the inquiry panel last month – she will work alongside chairman Sir Martin Moore-Bick to investigate the North Kensington blaze.

But Ms Mehra previously ran an organisation which accepted a £71,000 donation from the charitable arm of cladding manufacturer Arconic in 2017, The Guardian revealed.

Grenfell survivors have questioned her impartiality, and asked for her to be dropped from the inquiry.

Now the Mayor has written to Boris Johnson to demand action before the next phase of the investigation starts on Monday.

In a letter seen by the Local Democracy Service, Mr Khan described Ms Mehra’s appointment as “another blow for the survivors, the bereaved and the wider community”.

Mr Khan met with survivors group Grenfell United on Wednesday, to hear their concerns about Ms Mehra’s appointment.

In his letter to the Prime Minister yesterday, he said it was “extremely worrying” that the Government’s own checks had not identified the potential conflict of interest.

Mr Johnson met with Grenfell United earlier this month, and promised to investigate the claims against Ms Mehra and stand her down from the panel if they were found to be true.

Mr Khan said: “I have no doubt that were Ms Mehra to remain in position, this would lead to a loss of faith in the process from a number of bereaved families, survivors and residents, with a significant impact on the ability of the inquiry to serve the purposes it was established for.”

He added: “I have always said that the families and friends of the Grenfell victims, and the survivors of the fire, must have absolute confidence in the Grenfell Tower Inquiry.

“The appointment of Benita Mehra is another major blow for the survivors, the bereaved and the wider community, and epitomises the careless approach this government continues to take in the aftermath of this tragedy.”

A spokesperson for the Cabinet Office said: “There are robust processes in place to ensure the Grenfell Tower Inquiry remains independent and that any potential conflicts of interest are properly considered and managed.

“The Prime Minister met members of the Grenfell community on January 16, and listened to their concerns about the Inquiry panel.

“He undertook to look into the matter, and this is what he is doing.”

Phase Two of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry – which will focus on the role of the flammable cladding in the fire – will start on Monday (January 27).