'An absolute fiasco': Angry scenes as council scraps Grenfell meeting as soon as journalists arrive

Grenfell Credit: PA

  • Video shows angry scenes as the meeting is brought to a sudden end

A senior council meeting about the Grenfell Tower disaster has descended into chaos and angry confrontations - when it was scrapped as soon as journalists entered the room.

Media and the public were initially barred from attending the evening meeting of Kensington and Chelsea council.

But after a challenge at the High Court, journalists won the right to enter the meeting at Kensington Town Hall.

However the leader of the council, Nicholas Paget-Brown, quickly abandoned the meeting, citing concerns about "prejudice" to an upcoming inquiry about the tragedy if journalists were there.

He and his cabinet then promptly left the room.

Arguments broke out among participants after the meeting was brought to an abrupt end.

ITV News reporter Nick Wallis described chaotic scenes after the meeting was stopped.

People began shouting, crying, and calling for the council executive to resign, he reported.

Labour councillor Robert Atkinson, who represents the ward that Grenfell Tower is in, had a furious altercation with Mr Paget-Brown after the decision was made to stop the meeting.

Opposition councillor Robert Atkinson called for the leader's resignation.

In a statement sent to ITV News after the meeting, the council said they had been given "legal advice" to stop the meeting and would "explore other opportunities" for open discussions.