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New Kensington Council leader heckled by Grenfell Tower protesters at council meeting

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.

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.

Kensington and Chelsea Council's leader Elizabeth Campbell  - Credit: AFP
Kensington and Chelsea Council's leader Elizabeth Campbell Credit: AFP

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.

Protesters with placards and banners demonstrate outside Kensington and Chelsea Town Hall - Credit: Jack Taylor 
Protesters with placards and banners demonstrate outside Kensington and Chelsea Town Hall Credit: Jack Taylor

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.

The meeting was formally closed after a resident who had just finished giving evidence via a translator either fainted or fell to the ground.

Three medics rushed to her side where she lay on the floor.

She was helped to her feet by medics and was assisted as she walked from the room, after lying prone on the floor for several minutes. A female companion said that she had collapsed multiple times since the fire.

Outside, a group of demonstrators holding Justice for Grenfell placards were gathered.

Addressing survivors in the chamber during the meeting, Cllr 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 survivor holds a piece of building debris at a Kensington and Chelsea Council meeting - Credit: REUTERS 
A survivor holds a piece of building debris at a Kensington and Chelsea Council meeting Credit: REUTERS

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.

"How can we have faith in you, come to you guys for help?", she asked the floor.

"You know, I can't really talk," she said, unable to continue, and was applauded as she finished speaking.

Piers Thompson, the lead petitioner of a petition calling for residents of the Silchester estate, near to the tower, to be treated fairly and be given more decision-making power, also spoke.

He told the council that if they had spent as much time considering the safety of the tower as they had controlling the evening's meeting, "maybe things would have been different".

Shortly after a survivor told the room he had been living in a hotel room with one double bed for him, his wife and three children since the tragedy.

"I was forgotten about," he explained.

The main problem residents were facing was a lack of action, he said.

"You know who done something for us?", he asked. "The residents of north Kensington. Our community. Our neighbours."

A victim holds her door key as she speaks at a Kensington and Chelsea Council meeting about Grenfell Tower at Kensington Town Hall - Credit: REUTERS
A victim holds her door key as she speaks at a Kensington and Chelsea Council meeting about Grenfell Tower at Kensington Town Hall Credit: REUTERS

For the main part of two hours, accounts from survivors and local community members were heard, with the meeting's agenda seemingly put on hold.

At points, muffled crying and shouting could be heard from outside the chamber.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Cllr Campbell said she was facing a great challenge but was "not yet" considering stepping down.

Of the calls for her resignation she said: "I think it's quite understandable, as I said it comes down to a lack of trust, but I feel I'm stepping up to the challenge rather than stepping down and away from it."

Asked if she had any plans to resign as she stepped away from the camera she replied: "No, not yet".

The next meeting of the council is not scheduled until October 25 - more than three months away.