Amid stiff competition, Oxfam may be the British charity sector’s greatest hypocrite. The charity’s chief executive, Halima Begum, has been forced out by trustees over accusations of bullying. Since being appointed almost two years ago, Begum is alleged to have presided over a ‘culture of fear’ that prompted almost 70 members of staff to sign a letter calling on the board to investigate her.

Begum – who earns over £130,000 a year – also stands accused of compromising Oxfam’s impartiality after appearing on stage with a Palestinian journalist who described the 7 October massacre as a ‘great day’. Naturally, Begum denies everything. Who’d have expected such conduct from the ‘be kind’ brigade?

Of course, this isn’t the first scandal to hit Oxfam. It emerged in 2018 that the charity had covered up widespread sexual abuse by its staff. While working in Haiti following the earthquake in 2010, Oxfam staff, including Roland Van Hauwermeiren – the director of operations at the time – were found to have used prostitutes in a villa rented for them by the organisation.........

© The Spectator