Who is Elizabeth Campbell? The Kensington Council leader who took charge after Grenfell Tower fire
Ms Campbell apologised for the council's response to the blaze, which killed at least 80 people
ELIZABETH Campbell was elected leader of Kensington and Chelsea Council in the aftermath of the Grenfell Tower fire disaster.
Fury over the council's response to the tragedy saw previous leader Nicholas Paget-Brown resign and Ms Campbell now faces a tough job to convince survivors she can turn the situation around.
Who is Elizabeth Campbell?
Elizabeth Campbell was first elected as a Conservative councillor for Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Council's Redcliffe ward in 2006.
She later switched to the borough's Royal Hospital ward in 2010 - the area includes Sloane Square and the Kings Road and is one of the wealthiest council wards in the country.
Ms Campbell was appointed the council's cabinet member for family and children's service in 2013 - which she claims has seen her "dealing with some of the most disadvantaged families in North Kensington... on the ground".
The mum-of-four was serving on the council's cabinet when the Grenfell Tower fire disaster killed at least 80 people last month.
RBKC's response to the tragedy was blasted as "awful" by London Mayor Sadiq Khan and the town hall was stormed by angry protesters in the aftermath of the blaze.
After leader Nicholas Paget-Brown resigned over what he described as the "perceived failings" of the council, Ms Campbell was elected to replace him.
What does she say about the Grenfell Tower disaster?
Ms Campbell vowed "things will change" after being appointed leader and publicly apologised for the council's response.
In a statement she said: "The first thing I want to do is I want to apologise.
"This is our community and we have failed it when people needed us the most. So, no buts, no ifs, no excuses.
"I am truly sorry.
"As new leader, I will appoint a new cabinet tomorrow and things are going to change.
"The first thing I'm going to do is to reach out to our community so we can begin to heal the wounds and the second thing I am going to do is to phone up Sajid Javid, as secretary of state, and ask for more help.
"I don't know at this stage what that help will be like, what the plan will be, but I know that the thing we need is a plan for the community in North Kensington and that is what I'm going to do."
On July 19 Ms Campbell was heckled at a council meeting, with one attendee calling her a "murderer".
How have Grenfell Tower residents reacted to Elizabeth Campbell's appointment?
The Justice 4 Grenfell survivors' group of residents affected by the blaze did not welcome the appointment of a councillor who held a senior role in the build-up and aftermath to the tragedy.
Co-ordinator Sue Caro said residents wanted the council dissolved and that Ms Campbell represents the status quo.
She said: "I know that she has a track record that’s not considered to be particularly good.
"I know that she was a cabinet member already - it’s completely unacceptable. It’s like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.
"They have shown they are not fit to run a council or deliver the services that are needed and I don’t really think it matters who is the leader."
Ms Campbell was booed by residents as she delivered her first speech as council leader.
Why are people describing her as 'out of touch'?
In one of her first interviews as council leader, Ms Campbell faced claims she "doesn't understand" Grenfell residents after saying she had never been inside a tower block.
She told BBC radio: “I haven’t been into the high rise council blocks before but I am certainly doing that now.
“I haven’t been inside the Grenfell Tower before the fire. Not Trellick. But I have been inside many other council houses.”
Ms Campbell later clarified her remarks to say she had been inside tower blocks but not individual flats, while rejecting claims she was "out of touch" with poor families.
She said: "The families I’ve seen may not have been living in high rises but they were living in North Kensington.
"I have seen many children, many families... I totally reject the fact that just because I live in the south of the borough I’ve got no understanding of what’s going on in the north of the borough."
