A multimillionaire Reform UK backer has accused the Prime Minister of threatening to take away his OBE over a social media attack on Sir Sadiq Khan.
Charlie Mullins, founder of Pimlico Plumbers, was heavily criticised by the Honours Forfeiture Committee for “bringing the honours system into disrepute”, due to comments aimed at the London Mayor dating back to 2022.
The 72-year-old business tycoon was forced to apologise after saying “someone should kill” Mr Khan in a discussion about London’s ULEZ scheme. He was suspended from the platform ‘X’, after breaking its policy against violence which includes — but is not limited to — wishing harm on others.
Now, Mr Mullins, who primarily lives in Marbella, Spain, has accused Sir Keir Starmer of enacting political revenge after officials attempted to revoke the honour.
“It’s definitely politically motivated,” he told The Telegraph, “I’m being victimised because I left the UK and said I’m not playing the game with them any more.”
The self-made millionaire sold his stake in Pimlico Plumbers for around £145million in 2021 and has been “celebrating ever since”. He has donated tens of thousands to Reform UK and has even discussed standing as an MP for the party with its leader Nigel Farage.
Following intervention from lawyers acting on behalf of Mr Mullins, including a pledge to undertake “gender sensitivity and diversity training”, he was last week told no action would be taken.
However, he was told he could face further investigation “should any future behaviour make that necessary.”
Mr Mullins added: “Anybody that speaks up against them they (Labour) want to destroy, and that’s what they’re doing here with me. They think that because I’ve opened my mouth and spoke the truth, they think they’re going to shut me up. Well they ain’t.”
Mr Farage waded into the controversy and said Labour “needs to leave Charlie alone”, but admitted Mr Mullins should “tone it down a bit.”
In a letter to Mr Mullins in September, the Forfeiture Committee reportedly raised concerns about posts made on X, which included a “misogynistic” comment made about Carol Vorderman, as well as accusations of a racist joke being made at the British Curry Awards.
In the letter, the officials wrote: “While you apologised for your remarks in each case, the committee feels that this is a troubling pattern of behaviour.
“This behaviour is not of the standard expected of an honours recipient. The committee is therefore minded to recommend to His Majesty that your OBE be revoked.”
Responding, Mr Mullins said the grounds for forfeiture had not been met and that his comments were protected under freedom of expression.
