Ex-Grenfell housing chief no longer at Barnet Council

A former Grenfell Tower housing chief who was appointed as a group director at Barnet Homes last month, is no longer in her role.

Laura Johnson led the housing department at the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) when the Grenfell Tower fire killed 72 people in June 2017 and later gave evidence to the public inquiry.

Bereaved families and survivors of the tragedy had condemned her appointment to the council-owned company and called it "a scandal".

Barnet Homes said it was inappropriate to comment but confirmed she "is no longer employed by The Barnet Group". The BBC has approached Johnson for further comment through Barnet Council.

Barnet Council had previously said Johnson had been the "strongest candidate" for the role following a competitive recruitment process and was "legally eligible" for the position.

Barnet Homes said: "In common with any employer, we owe obligations of confidentiality to those working for us, applying for, or being considered for any role at any level. For that reason, it would be inappropriate for us to comment further," a spokesperson added.

Barnet Homes is an arm's-length management organisation (Almo) responsible for managing more than 14,000 council-owned properties in the north London borough.

Johnson joined Barnet Homes in 2024 and was appointed to a permanent senior role earlier this year.

Her departure from the organisation comes weeks after the Metropolitan Police announced it had referred 54 individuals and 20 companies and organisations to the Crown Prosecution Service as part of its investigation into the Grenfell Tower fire.

Although the full list of companies and individuals has not been made public, Kensington and Chelsea Council confirmed it was among the organisations referred for possible offences including corporate manslaughter and fire and health and safety breaches.

The CPS has said it will now review all the evidence and aims to make charging decisions before the 10th anniversary of the fire next year.

Her appointment to group director had prompted heavy criticism from bereaved families and survivors of the Grenfell Tower fire, who said it raised questions about accountability more than nine years after the disaster.

Responding to the announcement of her departure, Grenfell United said Johnson's appointment by The Barnet Group had been "a scandal".

A spokesperson said: "It is an outrage that such damning findings have done nothing to stop them being entrusted with public safety.

"More than nine years after Grenfell, it should not take bereaved families and survivors campaigning for a housing organisation to take the Inquiry's findings seriously."

"This does not end with Johnson," the spokesperson added.

Grenfell United said others whose conduct had been singled out by the Grenfell Tower Public Inquiry continued to hold positions of authority, with responsibility for health and safety and drawing "large salaries".

"The Inquiry's findings are there for everyone to read, yet those criticised continue their careers as though nothing has happened," the group said.

During the public inquiry, after several days of giving evidence, Johnson was asked by lead counsel Richard Millett KC: "Is there anything you would like to have done differently?"

Johnson replied: "Of course... if only we had more due diligence in relation to the cladding that was placed on the tower.

"The list is endless because you would never want anything of this type of thing to happen. It's just awful. Of course I look back and think what could I have done different to make sure this didn't happen."

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