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Kensington and Chelsea council leader quits in wake of Grenfell disaster Kensington and Chelsea council leader quits in wake of Grenfell disaster
(about 1 hour later)
The Conservative leader and deputy leader of the embattled Kensington and Chelsea council have both resigned in the wake of the Grenfell Tower disaster.The Conservative leader and deputy leader of the embattled Kensington and Chelsea council have both resigned in the wake of the Grenfell Tower disaster.
Nicholas Paget-Brown said he would step down as soon as a new leader was in place, amid criticism over the local authority’s response to the tragedy and, more recently over his decision to seek to bar the press and public from the first council meeting following the fire.Nicholas Paget-Brown said he would step down as soon as a new leader was in place, amid criticism over the local authority’s response to the tragedy and, more recently over his decision to seek to bar the press and public from the first council meeting following the fire.
Paget-Brown said: “As council leader I have to accept my share of responsibility for these perceived failings. In a parallel statement, the deputy leader, Rock Feilding-Mellen, who is also responsible for housing, said he would depart as well.
“In particular my decision to accept legal advice that I should not compromise the public inquiry by having an open discussion in public yesterday has itself become a political story. And it cannot be right that this should have become the focus of attention when so many are dead or still unaccounted for.” Paget-Brown said his successor would appoint a new deputy leader and cabinet. He said: “As council leader I have to accept my share of responsibility for these perceived failings.”
In his statement Paget-Brown said his replacement would pick a new deputy and cabinet, meaning the current deputy leader, Rock Feilding-Mellen, will also depart. He identified as a key factor the chaotic scenes on Thursday evening when he called a halt to the first council meeting following the fire, after failing in an attempt to have the media barred from the event.
Both Downing Street and the communities secretary, Sajid Javid, said the Conservative-run council should have allowed the media to attend the cabinet meeting. He said: “In particular my decision to accept legal advice that I should not compromise the public inquiry by having an open discussion in public yesterday has itself become a political story. And it cannot be right that this should have become the focus of attention when so many are dead or still unaccounted for.”
The fire had been “a huge human tragedy for so many families”, Paget-Brown said: “The task for my successor is to ensure that the strengths which also characterise this place, and North Kensington in particular, are seen to play their part in bringing the community together and ensuring that this borough, the most wonderful place, can start to move forward from this tragedy.”
Both Downing Street and the communities secretary, Sajid Javid, said the Conservative-run council should have allowed the media to attend its cabinet meeting.
A No 10 spokeswoman said the prime minister “would have expected the council to respect” a high court ruling that said journalists should be allowed at the meeting.A No 10 spokeswoman said the prime minister “would have expected the council to respect” a high court ruling that said journalists should be allowed at the meeting.
While Downing Street also said the council had made some progress over its response to the fire, which killed at least 80 people, it is understood to be angry at the chaotic scenes at the cabinet meeting on Thursday evening. While Downing Street also said the council had made some progress over its response to the fire, which killed at least 80 people, it was understood to be angry about the scenes at the cabinet meeting on Thursday evening.
The council initially said the public and media would be barred to avoid potential disorder. However, after a last-minute legal challenge from media organisations including the Guardian, the high court said accredited journalists could attend. However, it is understood that there was no overt pressure from No 10 for Paget-Brown and his team to step down.
Greg Hands, the Conservative MP for Chelsea and Fulham who also has the role of minister for London, said it was the right decision for Paget-Brown to go, and signalled a more interventionist approach from government towards the council.
He tweeted: “I will be working closely with Kensington & Chelsea councillors to ensure a new council leader who commands support within the group and the wider public and from government. Lessons need to be learned & action taken in response to Grenfell Tower.”
Paget-Brown faced repeated calls to step down, both from political opponents and groups representing Grenfell Tower survivors and relatives.
Earlier this month the government relieved the council of responsibility for taking care of the survivors, with the work handed over to a response team made up of representatives from central government, the British Red Cross, the police and fire services, among others.
Pressure on Paget-Brown rose again after the council said on Thursday that the public and media would be barred from a cabinet meeting to avoid potential disorder. After a last-minute legal challenge from media organisations including the Guardian, the high court said accredited journalists could attend.
But when the meeting began Paget-Brown made a brief statement and then closed the session, saying it could not continue with journalists present. This prompted loud objections from opposition councillors.But when the meeting began Paget-Brown made a brief statement and then closed the session, saying it could not continue with journalists present. This prompted loud objections from opposition councillors.
The Downing Street spokeswoman said: “Our view is that access to democracy should always be easy, and we think that’s vital if people want to retain confidence in our democratic system. A Downing Street spokeswoman said: “Our view is that access to democracy should always be easy, and we think that’s vital if people want to retain confidence in our democratic system.
“I can’t obviously speak for the council, but there are rules that state all meetings must be open to the public except in certain circumstances.“I can’t obviously speak for the council, but there are rules that state all meetings must be open to the public except in certain circumstances.
“As we saw in this specific case, the high court ruled that the meeting should be open, and we would have expected the council to respect that.”“As we saw in this specific case, the high court ruled that the meeting should be open, and we would have expected the council to respect that.”
Javid had said: “Access to the democratic process should always be open and transparent – I would urge all levels of government to always favour this approach so people can retain confidence in the system.”Javid had said: “Access to the democratic process should always be open and transparent – I would urge all levels of government to always favour this approach so people can retain confidence in the system.”