A senior figure at Oxfam Great Britain has dramatically resigned from the charity's board, condemning what he describes as 'cruel and inhumane' treatment of the organisation's former chief executive and calling for the regulator to step in.
Trustee's Resignation and Scathing Accusations
Dr Balwant Singh, who had served as a trustee since November 2022, publicly announced his departure, stating he had 'lost confidence in the board's governance, integrity, transparency and accountability'. His resignation follows the contentious exit of CEO Halima Begum in December 2023, after less than a year in the role.
In a statement published by the Observer, Singh apologised directly to Begum and issued a stark warning. 'These failures are now sufficiently serious and systemic to warrant external regulatory intervention,' he declared, urging the Charity Commission to remove the current board and launch an independent investigation.
Leadership Crisis and Internal Conflict
The resignation shines a harsh light on a period of intense internal strife within one of the UK's largest charitable organisations. Reports of infighting among Oxfam's senior leadership have surfaced in recent months, culminating in Begum's forced departure.
The charity has stated that an employment investigation firm, Howlett Brown, was appointed to examine concerns around Begum's leadership. Following this review, the board made a unanimous decision in December that trust and confidence in her had been lost.
However, Singh has challenged this narrative. He condemned what he called a 'brutal' briefing campaign against Begum and claimed the findings of the leadership investigation were not shared with her, denying her a right of reply. Begum's legal representative has previously stated she was subjected to 'a victimising witch-hunt'.
Independent Review and Fallout
In response to the escalating crisis, Oxfam announced on 9 January that it would commission an independent review of its board processes. This review will assess whether the board and trustees acted in line with their duties and policies during and prior to Begum's exit.
The turmoil predates the former CEO's departure. Oxfam's chair, Charles Gurassa – who also chairs the Guardian Media Group – stood down in November. It was reported that Begum had filed a grievance claim against him before he left, which Gurassa told the board was 'inaccurate'.
Singh also revealed that a public statement issued by the board following media reports of Begum's exit in the Times was not shared with him beforehand and did not reflect his views as a trustee.
When approached for comment, Oxfam referred to its January statement, adding: 'As this review is independent, Oxfam is unable to comment further at this stage, to ensure the scope, process, and outcome are not affected.' The charity now faces a pivotal moment as it awaits the findings of an external examination that will scrutinise the very heart of its governance.
