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Kensington and Chelsea Council leader will step down
The leader of Kensington and Chelsea Council will stand down from his role, saying he must accept his share of responsibility for “perceived failings” following the Grenfell Tower fire.
Nicholas Paget-Brown said he will step down as leader of the council “as soon as a successor is in place”.
Theresa May has criticised the slow local response to the fire. Speaking in the Commons just over a week ago she said: “People were left without belongings, without roofs over their heads, without even basic information about what had happened, what they should do and where they could seek help.
“That was a failure of the state, local and national, to help people when they needed it most. As prime minister I apologise for that failure. And as prime minister I’ve taken responsibility for doing what we can to put things right.”
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In a televised statement Mr Paget-Brown said: “I have to accept my share of responsibility for perceived failings. In particular my decision not 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. It cannot be right that this should have become the focus of attention when so many are dead or still unaccounted for.”
He added: “I have therefore decided to step down as leader of the council as soon as a successor is in place. They will appoint a new deputy leader and cabinet. This is a huge human tragedy for so many families. The task for my successor is to ensure 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 this borough, the most wonderful place, can start to move forward from this tragedy.”
