Housing secretary criticises Midland Heart as it suspends Lord Austin as chair

The comment from Lord Austin at the centre of the current backlash was a (now-deleted) post on X, which he has subsequently described as being in response to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency’s (UNRWA) claim that it had not known about a Hamas operations centre that the Israel Defence Forces said its forces had discovered underneath UNRWA’s offices in Gaza. 

In the post, he said: “Everyone, better safe than sorry: before you go to bed, nip down and check you haven’t inadvertently got a death cult of Islamist murderers and rapists running their operations downstairs. It’s easily done.”

On Wednesday 14 February, Lord Austin said that he had deleted the post, writing on X: “People have complained about a tweet I issued at the weekend about Hamas’ operations centre being underneath UNRWA’s offices. It was not my intention to offend anyone and I have deleted it.

“As I have written and said many times – including in a national newspaper today– the vast majority of Muslims are just as appalled by racism and terrorism as everyone else.”

In a statement shared with Social Housing, Lord Austin said: “The word ‘Islamists’ is very clearly a reference not to Muslim people but to extremists. I have said and written repeatedly that the vast majority of Muslims are just as appalled by racism and extremism as anyone else.

“I am really shocked and disappointed that this has happened as a result of politically motivated bullies orchestrating a malicious campaign on social media to smear me by deliberately misinterpreting my comments and trying to undermine a lifetime’s work fighting racism.

“I am particularly appalled that people are claiming the word ‘Islamist’ refers to all Muslims and it is disgraceful for people to claim this is in some way ‘Islamophobic’.”

The tweet in question is not the only controversial post by Lord Austin to have received backlash on the social media platform, including prior to his appointment as Midland Heart chair. 

On Wednesday, 14 February, Midland Heart said on X: “We’ve been contacted today regarding a post made by our chair earlier this week. He has since clarified the points made in this tweet and deleted the post. We understand the strength of feeling on this issue and like everyone are deeply saddened by the human tragedy.

“Our focus remains on ensuring our tenants continue to receive the best possible services and that we build as many affordable homes as possible in our region. As such, we as an organisation will not comment further on international political issues.”

The association then tweeted again two days later to announce Lord Austin’s suspension as chair and the meeting scheduled to take place in 14 days “in line with the rules of the board, to discuss his removal”.

Mr Gove has now criticised Lord Austin’s suspension. Also writing on X, he said, on Saturday (17 February): “I am deeply concerned by Midland Heart’s actions in seeking to remove Lord Austin from their board. I will be writing to the board to demand an urgent meeting and explanation.

“Not only is Ian a champion for affordable housing, he has spent his career fighting racism. Islam is a religion of peace, but Islamists – including the proscribed terrorist organisation Hamas – are extremists characterised by violence and oppression who to seek to undermine our democratic values. They must be challenged wherever we encounter them.”

In a statement to Social Housing, Midland Heart said: “Lord Austin has been suspended from his duties at Midland Heart. A meeting has been arranged for 14 days’ time, in line with rules of the association, to discuss his removal from the board. Llewellyn Graham, our senior independent board member and chief executive of Nehemiah Housing, will step into the role of chair during this period.”

Homes England and the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) have been approached for comment.