Reform UK millionaire backer ‘threatened with OBE removal’ after slamming Sadiq Khan

The wealthy founder of Pimlico Plumbers and Reform UK supporter Charlie Mullins has accused the Labour government of targeting him politically after facing threats to remove his OBE.

The Honours Forfeiture Committee had warned Mullins last September they were considering recommending his honour be taken away, pointing to several controversial comments he’d made over recent years.

These included a since-deleted tweet where he said “someone should kill” London Mayor Sadiq Khan during debates about the ULEZ expansion, as well as remarks about TV presenter Carol Vorderman that were described as misogynistic. The committee also flagged comments about transgender workplace policies and an alleged racially insensitive joke at an awards ceremony.

After a months-long review that saw Mullins’ lawyers argue his right to free speech and offer to undergo diversity training, the case was dropped last week. But the 72-year-old businessman, who now spends most of his time in Spain, insists the whole investigation was nothing more than political punishment for his outspoken criticism of Labour. “It’s definitely politically motivated,” Mullins claimed.

I’m being victimised because I left the UK and spoke out against their policies. Anybody that speaks up against them they want to destroy.” He added defiantly: “They think because I’ve opened my mouth and spoke the truth, they can shut me up. Well they ain’t.”

The plumbing millionaire, a prominent Brexit supporter who later backed Reform UK, has been a vocal critic of what he calls Labour’s “anti-business” policies. He relocated to Spain in 2022, blaming high UK taxes and “woke nonsense” for his decision to leave.

His comments about Sadiq Khan, which got him temporarily suspended from Twitter, came during heated debates about the expansion of London’s ultra-low emission zone. While Mullins later said the remark was meant as a joke, it was one of several incidents that caught the attention of the honours committee.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has thrown his support behind Mullins, telling reporters that “Labour needs to leave Charlie alone.” Farage suggested the case was part of a pattern of the government trying to intimidate its critics. The decision to drop the case followed submissions from Mullins’ legal team which highlighted his previous public apologies for some comments and noted he had been dealing with personal challenges at the time. They also emphasised his right to freedom of expression and offered his willingness to participate in sensitivity training.

The Honours Forfeiture Committee, which is mostly made up of independent members and chaired by Cabinet Secretary Sir Chris Wormald, examines cases where recipients may have brought the honours system into disrepute. Their recommendations go through the Prime Minister to the King for final approval. While Mullins retains his OBE for now, the controversy has highlighted ongoing tensions between the Labour government and its critics, particularly those associated with Reform UK. Mullins remains unrepentant about his outspoken views, vowing to continue speaking his mind despite the scrutiny. “I’ve made quite a big noise about what I genuinely believe to be the truth,” he said. “I won’t stop now.” The case has sparked debate about where to draw the line between protecting free speech and maintaining standards for honour recipients, with no clear resolution in sight.