Background and departure
Laura Johnson, who served as director of housing at the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) at the time of the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire, has left a senior council housing post that carried a £150,000 annual salary. The move follows public outcry from bereaved families and survivors who described her appointment to the role as "outrageous."
Role at RBKC and inquiry findings
Johnson was in post at RBKC when the fire at Grenfell Tower killed 72 people in June 2017. In the inquiry that followed the disaster she was criticised for her involvement in cost-cutting and budget decisions made in the period before the blaze. Those decisions and the inquiry’s findings have continued to shape public debate over accountability and housing safety.
Reaction from survivors and campaigners
The appointment prompted strong reactions from survivors and relatives of those who died, who said it was inappropriate for someone criticised in the Grenfell inquiry to hold a senior housing role. Campaigners had argued the appointment undermined confidence in the organisations responsible for social housing governance and resident safety.
Uncertain next steps
The organisation that made the appointment has not been quoted here and no further details about the terms of Johnson’s departure or any internal review have been disclosed in this account. The episode is likely to continue to draw scrutiny as questions about housing management, oversight and the implementation of the inquiry’s recommendations remain politically and socially sensitive topics in the UK.