Laura Johnson, ex-Grenfell housing director, leaves Barnet Group job two months after appointment

Left · 2Laura Johnson has left her role as director of development and property at the Barnet Group, which manages Barnet's 13,000 council homes, about two months after being appointed in August on a salary of £157,078. 1 2 Left · 2In a letter to Joe Powell, the Labour MP for Kensington and Bayswater, the company confirmed Johnson was "no longer employed by The Barnet Group". Board chair Eamon McGoldrick wrote that the company recognised "the depth of feeling surrounding the Grenfell Tower tragedy" and "legitimate public interest concerning governance of senior appointments". 1 2 Left · 2The reason for her departure has not been given. McGoldrick said he owed confidentiality obligations to employees and could not discuss specifics, and the Mirror said there was no suggestion the exit was due to the criticism of the appointment itself. 1 2

Left · 2Johnson was director of housing at the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea when the June 2017 Grenfell fire killed 72 people. The Grenfell inquiry criticised her role in budget-cutting decisions before the fire. 1 2 Left · 2According to the Guardian, the inquiry found she pushed for a new contractor to carry out the tower's renovation on a lower budget, which ultimately meant metal cladding was swapped for combustible plastic-filled panels. The Mirror adds that the inquiry found she used "decisive influence" to replace the original contractor, Leadbitter, after it said the plans would cost £1.2m more than budgeted. It also said she "overruled" the Tenant Management Organisation (TMO), to which the council had delegated the decision, and that the TMO later appointed Rydon at a cheaper price. 1 2 Left · 2Bereaved families and survivors had described the appointment as "outrageous and disrespectful". Grenfell United called it a "slap in the face" that showed "a complete disregard for the findings of the Grenfell Inquiry". After the departure, a Grenfell United spokesperson welcomed the news but said those criticised by the inquiry "continue their careers as though nothing has happened". 1 2

Left · 1Powell said it was "totally inappropriate for any individual criticised by the inquiry to continue to work in housing, particularly while criminal investigations are ongoing". Last month the Metropolitan Police asked prosecutors to consider charges including manslaughter and fraud against 54 individuals and 20 organisations. The Crown Prosecution Service said charging decisions would be made before the tenth anniversary on 14 June 2027. 1 Left · 1When the appointment was made, Barnet Group said Johnson was the "strongest candidate" after a "robust and publicly advertised recruitment process". It said it had considered the inquiry findings carefully and that she was legally eligible for the post. The Mirror also reports, citing the Guardian, that housing secretary Angela Rayner is thought to have written to the Barnet Group last month about the appointment. 2