Grenfell survivors heckle leader of council

THE NEW leader of the council at the centre of the Grenfell Tower fire was heckled and booed as she addressed survivors and local residents at a public meeting last night.

Boos and shouts of “shame on you” rang out from the chamber as Elizabeth Campbell was formally elected new leader of Kensington and Chelsea council after being nominated by the local Conservative group.

She was heckled as she addressed the chamber in Kensington Town Hall and at times could not be heard amid the yells of “resign”, prompting calls for order.

A public gallery packed with former Grenfell Tower residents and an over-spill room containing at least 150 community members and volunteers were present in addition to the full council.

Six extra chairs were placed on the chamber floor underneath the public gallery at the request of survivors, some of whom indicated they may wish to speak during the meeting.

At least one person was let in midway through the meeting after furious banging on the locked door separating the public gallery from the chamber floor was heard. Outside, a group of demonstrators holding Justice for Grenfell placards were gathered.

Addressing survivors in the chamber, Coun Campbell said: “I am deeply sorry for the grief and trauma that you are suffering.

“I am truly sorry that we did not do more to help you when you needed it the most.”

A woman who said her teenager niece had perished in the blaze addressed the chamber. She said her brother and sister-in-law could not speak in public because “their pain is too huge”.

She told councillors: “I think you should be highly embarrassed by the response,” adding that it had been “totally inadequate”.

She told the council a “simple acknowledgement of an email would have gone a long way”, referring to a previous attempt to get in contact. The family of the deceased “are being treated like cattle”, another woman said as she took the microphone.