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| Kensington and Chelsea council leader has never been inside its high-rise flats | Kensington and Chelsea council leader has never been inside its high-rise flats |
| (3 days later) | |
| The incoming leader of the council responsible for Grenfell Tower has admitted she has never been inside a flat in any of the borough’s high-rise buildings. | The incoming leader of the council responsible for Grenfell Tower has admitted she has never been inside a flat in any of the borough’s high-rise buildings. |
| Elizabeth Campbell said it would take a generation for the authority to regain the trust of local people as MPs prepared for a debate on the inquiry into the disaster. | Elizabeth Campbell said it would take a generation for the authority to regain the trust of local people as MPs prepared for a debate on the inquiry into the disaster. |
| Speaking on Wednesday morning, four weeks after the fire, Campbell refused to apologise for Kensington and Chelsea council’s actions prior to it, which former Grenfell residents have heavily criticised. She said the public inquiry would apportion blame. But she repeated her apology for the way the authority dealt with the aftermath. | Speaking on Wednesday morning, four weeks after the fire, Campbell refused to apologise for Kensington and Chelsea council’s actions prior to it, which former Grenfell residents have heavily criticised. She said the public inquiry would apportion blame. But she repeated her apology for the way the authority dealt with the aftermath. |
| Campbell said she had recently met a bereaved former Grenfell resident, who asked her why they should trust the council again. “I said: ‘I think it is going to take a very long time; it’ll take a generation and, over the next months and years, we have to give you reasons to trust us again’,” she told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. | Campbell said she had recently met a bereaved former Grenfell resident, who asked her why they should trust the council again. “I said: ‘I think it is going to take a very long time; it’ll take a generation and, over the next months and years, we have to give you reasons to trust us again’,” she told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. |
| “And that won’t just be words, that won’t just be apologies and nice words, it’s got to be actions.” | “And that won’t just be words, that won’t just be apologies and nice words, it’s got to be actions.” |
| Campbell represents the affluent Sloane Square area and served on the council’s cabinet at the time of the fire. While she accepted collective responsibility, she insisted she was the right person to lead the authority, touting her experience of running its family and children’s services, which included working with many residents of North Kensington, the area that incorporates Grenfell Tower. | Campbell represents the affluent Sloane Square area and served on the council’s cabinet at the time of the fire. While she accepted collective responsibility, she insisted she was the right person to lead the authority, touting her experience of running its family and children’s services, which included working with many residents of North Kensington, the area that incorporates Grenfell Tower. |
| But she admitted that her work had never led her to visit flats in any of the area’s high-rise buildings. She said she understood why people might feel that she could not understand their lives, but said her work contradicted that. | But she admitted that her work had never led her to visit flats in any of the area’s high-rise buildings. She said she understood why people might feel that she could not understand their lives, but said her work contradicted that. |
| “I totally reject the fact that, just because I live in the south of the borough, I have no understanding of what’s going on in the north of the borough. And I also totally reject the whole notion that, because we have people in the borough who are wealthy and people who are not wealthy, the wealthy don’t care.” | “I totally reject the fact that, just because I live in the south of the borough, I have no understanding of what’s going on in the north of the borough. And I also totally reject the whole notion that, because we have people in the borough who are wealthy and people who are not wealthy, the wealthy don’t care.” |
| Later, speaking to Sky News, she said she had visited high-rise blocks while out canvassing, but had never been inside any of the flats. “Whether I have been on the 21st floor of a particular tower block, I don’t think it is particularly relevant,” she said. | Later, speaking to Sky News, she said she had visited high-rise blocks while out canvassing, but had never been inside any of the flats. “Whether I have been on the 21st floor of a particular tower block, I don’t think it is particularly relevant,” she said. |
| Campbell added that the council planned to use some of its £274m cash reserves to build more council homes and would be asking for more money from central government to help. She also said the authority was looking at buying private houses in the area for Grenfell victims to live in. | Campbell added that the council planned to use some of its £274m cash reserves to build more council homes and would be asking for more money from central government to help. She also said the authority was looking at buying private houses in the area for Grenfell victims to live in. |
| The government offered its support to Campbell, saying her appointment offered an “important opportunity for fresh leadership and our shared focus must remain on all those affected by the tragic fire at Grenfell Tower”. | The government offered its support to Campbell, saying her appointment offered an “important opportunity for fresh leadership and our shared focus must remain on all those affected by the tragic fire at Grenfell Tower”. |
| A spokesman indicated that Whitehall would be ready to listen to her requests for money to help rehouse Grenfell victims, saying: “We stand ready to assist the council to ensure local people get the help and support they need. | A spokesman indicated that Whitehall would be ready to listen to her requests for money to help rehouse Grenfell victims, saying: “We stand ready to assist the council to ensure local people get the help and support they need. |
| “Everyone who lived in Grenfell Tower and Grenfell Walk will be offered a new permanent social tenancy, suitable for their needs. In addition to the 68 new homes already identified, other suitable permanent homes are being actively sought to make sure people can move as quickly as possible.” | “Everyone who lived in Grenfell Tower and Grenfell Walk will be offered a new permanent social tenancy, suitable for their needs. In addition to the 68 new homes already identified, other suitable permanent homes are being actively sought to make sure people can move as quickly as possible.” |
| MPs plan to discuss the work of the public inquiry, which is being led by the retired judge Sir Martin Moore-Bick, on Wednesday afternoon. | MPs plan to discuss the work of the public inquiry, which is being led by the retired judge Sir Martin Moore-Bick, on Wednesday afternoon. |
| Earlier in the day, Stuart Cundy, a Met police commander who is overseeing the Grenfell Tower investigation, said: “As we all reflect upon what happened, my thoughts, and those of all of us in the Met, are with those who lost their loved ones, their homes and a community that is in mourning. | Earlier in the day, Stuart Cundy, a Met police commander who is overseeing the Grenfell Tower investigation, said: “As we all reflect upon what happened, my thoughts, and those of all of us in the Met, are with those who lost their loved ones, their homes and a community that is in mourning. |
| “Four weeks ago, a terrible tragedy unfolded within Grenfell Tower. The human cost of that tragedy is something we are all still trying to fully comprehend. For many people, the events of that night will remain with them forever. | “Four weeks ago, a terrible tragedy unfolded within Grenfell Tower. The human cost of that tragedy is something we are all still trying to fully comprehend. For many people, the events of that night will remain with them forever. |
| “Each and every one of us involved from the Met is determined to do all we can to return those who died to their families as soon as we can. Today, we remember all those who have been so deeply affected.” | “Each and every one of us involved from the Met is determined to do all we can to return those who died to their families as soon as we can. Today, we remember all those who have been so deeply affected.” |
| The Grenfell Tower inquiry has moved quickly to appoint lawyers to coordinate the investigation, and it was confirmed that it would extend the consultation period on its terms of reference until 28 July. | The Grenfell Tower inquiry has moved quickly to appoint lawyers to coordinate the investigation, and it was confirmed that it would extend the consultation period on its terms of reference until 28 July. |
| Richard Millett QC, who also sits as a deputy high court judge, will be counsel to the inquiry. Like the chairman, Moore-Bick, his previous area of expertise is in handling complex commercial disputes. | Richard Millett QC, who also sits as a deputy high court judge, will be counsel to the inquiry. Like the chairman, Moore-Bick, his previous area of expertise is in handling complex commercial disputes. |
| Millett will be assisted by Bernard Richmond QC, a criminal defence barrister who also sits as an assistant coroner, and Kate Grange QC, whose expertise is in commercial, construction, public and inquiry law. | Millett will be assisted by Bernard Richmond QC, a criminal defence barrister who also sits as an assistant coroner, and Kate Grange QC, whose expertise is in commercial, construction, public and inquiry law. |
| The inquiry’s official solicitor will be Caroline Featherstone, who initially qualified as a registered nurse before changing career. She has worked in the government legal department since 2006. Mark Fisher, a cabinet office civil servant, has been appointed secretary to the inquiry. | The inquiry’s official solicitor will be Caroline Featherstone, who initially qualified as a registered nurse before changing career. She has worked in the government legal department since 2006. Mark Fisher, a cabinet office civil servant, has been appointed secretary to the inquiry. |
| Residents and survivors of the Grenfell Tower fire had called for the inquiry deadline for submissions on the terms of reference, initially due to be 14 July, to be relaxed, warning that it was too short a period. | Residents and survivors of the Grenfell Tower fire had called for the inquiry deadline for submissions on the terms of reference, initially due to be 14 July, to be relaxed, warning that it was too short a period. |
| In a statement on Tuesday evening, the inquiry organisers said: “It has become clear … that there is a broad consensus that those affected need more than the one week originally envisaged for the inquiry’s consultation on its terms of reference. We are therefore extending the consultation period until 28 July, an extension of two weeks. | In a statement on Tuesday evening, the inquiry organisers said: “It has become clear … that there is a broad consensus that those affected need more than the one week originally envisaged for the inquiry’s consultation on its terms of reference. We are therefore extending the consultation period until 28 July, an extension of two weeks. |
| “We believe this strikes the right balance between providing enough time for people to respond meaningfully and ensuring the inquiry’s work, which cannot begin without terms of reference, can progress quickly.” | “We believe this strikes the right balance between providing enough time for people to respond meaningfully and ensuring the inquiry’s work, which cannot begin without terms of reference, can progress quickly.” |
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