New Grenfell council boss not quitting 'yet' amid 'murderers' shouts at meeting

The new leader of Kensington and Chelsea Council has rejected calls to resign as she faced cries of "murderers" and "shame on you" from survivors of the Grenfell Tower fire.

Conservative nominee Elizabeth Campbell was formally elected the new boss of the heavily criticised west London council amid angry scenes at a meeting on Wednesday night.

As Tory councillors voted for Ms Campbell, Grenfell survivors in the public gallery jeered and shouted.

Cries of "shame on you" and "murderers" could be heard, and the new leader was booed and heckled again as she addressed Kensington Town Hall.

Asked if she had any plans to resign following the meeting, Ms Campbell said: "No, not yet".

The Conservative councillor replaces former council leader Nicholas Paget-Brown, who resigned in the wake of the fire, in which at least 80 people died.

During the stormy meeting, Ms Campbell invited Grenfell victims, survivors and community groups who wished to speak to contribute.

She said: "We meet at a time of unimaginable grief and sorrow. The Grenfell fire is the biggest civilian disaster in this country for a generation."

As Ms Campbell described how she had spent the past few weeks meeting survivors, the new council leader faced shouts of "who?"

Ms Campbell admitted the council had "let down" the victims of the Grenfell tragedy, adding: "I am deeply sorry for the grief and trauma you are suffering.

"I am deeply sorry we did not do more to help you when you needed it the most."

Residents used the meeting to express anger that some victims of the fire have not yet been buried or identified, as well as asking why survivors are still waiting to be rehoused.

Some also described their experience of escaping the devastating blaze on 14 June.

One shouted at Ms Campbell: "You've let the dead down, now you want to come for the living?

"You are not in power, you will not be. The people must choose you and we have not chosen you... step down and resign."

Another resident said the treatment of the fire victims' families had been "disgusting", adding: "We've been swept under the carpet."

One local, in tears and speaking via a translator, said: "I beg you, do not play a game with us. I beg you, do not tell us lies. I beg you, do not waste our time."

Robert Atkinson, the leader of the Labour opposition, repeated his party's call for commissioners to take over the running of the Conservative-run authority.

He told Ms Campbell she was "part of the old regime" and said there was "nothing" the Tory council group could do to restore the confidence of locals.

His remarks were met with cheers from the public gallery.

Kensington MP Emma Dent Coad, also a Labour councillor, branded the council "not fit for purpose" as she compared the election of a new leader to the rearranging of deckchairs on the Titanic.

She said: "The world is watching, do the right thing."

The meeting was conducted amid tight security both inside and outside the council chamber, with demonstrators who brandished Justice for Grenfell banners gathering around 45 minutes before the scheduled start.

Proceedings began with a minute's silence for the victims of the fire, while councillors were warned the meeting would last as long as was necessary.

At least one person was let in midway through after furious banging on the locked door separating the public gallery from the chamber floor.

It was the first full council meeting since the Grenfell fire after a previous attempt was aborted last month by Mr Paget-Brown, who claimed proceedings could not take place in the presence of journalists who had gained entry.

Thirty-seven of 169 offers of temporary accommodation had been accepted by Grenfell residents as of Wednesday morning - just over a fifth of the offers made.