Kensington and Chelsea Council Leader Apologises to Grenfell Survivors in Heartfelt Open Letter Following Inquiry Report
Following the Grenfell Inquiry Report, Kensington and Chelsea Council has issued an official apology to Grenfell survivors. Council Leader Cllr Elizabeth Campbell addressed the bereaved in an open letter, acknowledging the Council’s failure to protect residents and vowing to learn from the Inquiry’s findings. The report, which has been eagerly awaited by those affected, outlines the failures that led to the catastrophic fire in 2017, killing 72 people, including 18 children.
Addressing the survivors and families of those lost in the fire, Cllr Campbell’s letter was both an apology and a commitment to change. “Today is a day for you, the residents and families of Grenfell,” she wrote, acknowledging the unimaginable circumstances the victims endured. “On behalf of the Council, I apologise unreservedly and with all my heart to you, and to the local community, for our failure to listen to residents and to protect them.”
The Grenfell Tower Inquiry’s phase two report has been a searing indictment of the chain of failures by various organisations, including the Council. Cllr Campbell admitted the Council’s shortcomings: “Put simply, we could, and should, have done more to keep people safe in their homes and to care for all of our residents in the aftermath of the fire.” She emphasised that profits were prioritised over people, and that clear warning signs were ignored, making Grenfell a wholly avoidable tragedy.
The Council Leader’s letter also highlighted how the findings laid bare the systemic failures that led to that fateful night. Campbell expressed her hope that the publication of the report marks an important step in the ongoing search for justice, stating, “We fully accept the findings, which are a withering critique of a system broken from top to bottom.” She acknowledged that the Council failed not only before and during the tower’s refurbishment but also in the aftermath, where a lack of care and humanity further compounded the suffering of the residents.
Cllr Campbell’s open letter also reaffirmed the Council’s commitment to learning from every single criticism outlined in the report. She promised that the Council would take the time to study the findings in detail, listen to community feedback, and publish a formal response later this year. She praised the ongoing efforts of the bereaved, survivors, and residents who continue to hold the Council accountable, helping to shape the changes needed.
“We will never forget that Grenfell happened here, on our watch, and we must work with our residents to build a local legacy here at the Council,” Campbell wrote, underlining the importance of visible and tangible change. She stressed that while the report provides a crucial impetus for reform, it is not the endpoint. “Justice is still to be served. Grenfell can never be allowed to happen again,” she concluded.
Cllr Campbell’s heartfelt letter serves as a stark reminder of the Council’s past failures but also signals a commitment to learning from the past and ensuring that the voices of Grenfell’s community remain at the forefront of future reforms. The Council’s response in the coming months will be closely watched as survivors and families continue their fight for justice and change.
You can read the full findings of the Grenfell Inquiry Report and its implications on the official Grenfell Tower Inquiry website.
[Image Credit: Garry Knight]
