Fraud accused ‘pretended family died’
THE LEADER of the council dealing with the Grenfell Tower fire has resigned over his handling of the disaster, which prompted a strong rebuke from Downing Street.
Nicholas Paget-Brown announced yesterday that he had to accept responsibility for “perceived failings” by Kensington and Chelsea Borough Council after the tragedy on June 14 which claimed at least 80 lives.
He abandoned a council meeting on Thursday called to discuss the disaster, and there were fresh claims that cost-cutting measures were behind downgraded building renovations.
Announcing his resignation, Mr Paget-Brown said he would step down as council leader “as soon as a successor is in place”.
He thanked other London boroughs for support, adding: “The scale of this tragedy was always going to mean that one borough alone would never have sufficient A MAN pretended his family died in the Grenfell Tower fire to get almost £10,000 from the victim relief fund, a court has heard.
Anh Nhu Nguyen, 52, allegedly claimed he lived in the North resources to respond to all the needs of the survivors and those made homeless, on its own.”
Mr Paget-Brown acknowledged questions about why the fire spread so quickly would need Kensington block and his wife and son had died in the blaze.
He is said to have conned charities and Kensington and Chelsea Council out of almost £10,000 by posing as a victim of the disaster for almost two weeks. He was given a hotel room, clothing, food, electrical items and cash. to be answered by the public inquiry, and the council had been criticised for “failing to answer all the questions”. He added: “As council leader I have to accept my share of responsibility for these perceived failings.”
Mr Paget-Brown called an abrupt halt to the cabinet meeting, citing legal advice, after journalists secured a High Court ruling overturning the council’s ban on Press and public attending.
A Number 10 spokeswoman said Prime Minister Theresa May’s view was that the Conservative-controlled council should have “respected” the ruling, adding: “Our view is that access to democracy should always be easy and we think that is vital if people want to retain confidence in our democratic system.”
Reports yesterday said that cladding used in a multi-millionpound renovation of the tower was switched to a cheaper version. Both and the BBC said documents revealed aluminium panels were preferred to the non-combustible zinc alternative. A saving of nearly £300,000 had allegedly been made by opting for “downgraded” cladding.
He appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court yesterday charged with two counts of fraud by false representation.
Nguyen, of Beckenham, London, was remanded in custody. The case was committed to Southwark Crown Court for a hearing on July 28.