Grenfell council chief not seeking re-election

The former head of the council criticised over its handling of the Grenfell Tower fire will not stand for re-election as a local councillor.

Nicholas Paget-brown, the leader of Kensington and Chelsea council at the time of the tower block blaze, stood down in the days after, saying he had to accept responsibility for the local authority’s “perceived failings”. He said his continuation as a councillor would “distract” from the council’s efforts in lobbying the Government over the fire’s aftermath.