Founder of left-wing campaign group 38 Degrees is sacked from his £75,000-a-year job after giving cocaine and Ketamine to younger staff members at after-work event
- David Babbs, executive director of 38 Degrees, has been sacked from his role
- He lost his £75,000 job after it was claimed he supplied drugs to staff members
- Independent investigation has been launched into the allegations against him
David Babbs, the executive director of 38 Degrees, has been sacked from his £75,000 role
The founder of a popular campaign group has been fired after he allegedly supplied staff with illegal drugs.
David Babbs, the executive director of 38 Degrees, from Hackney, east London, was sacked from his £75,000 role after it was found that he had supplied cocaine and ketamine to younger staff at an after-work event.
Police have been made aware of the incident and an independent external investigation is now looking into the claims.
38 Degrees is funded by donations from its three million members.
Chair Srabani Sen said: ‘We take these allegations extremely seriously and are keen to hear from anyone should they have concerns. The board have alerted the police and await next steps.’
The group, named after the angle at which snow starts to trigger avalanches, says its aims are to promote peace and preserve the planet.
It previously campaigned for a new housing regulator after the Grenfell Tower tragedy and also called on Walkers Crisps to go plastic-free.
Mr Babbs has previously said that he founded 38 Degrees after becoming inspired by the march against the Iraq War in 2003.
It uses mass email campaigns, online petitions, and repeatedly calls MPs as part of its campaigns.
Mr Babbs said: ‘It’s right that all allegations are properly investigated. I’m pleased that an independent external investigator has been appointed.’
A spokesman for 38 Degrees told The Telegraph that the incident in question took place at an after-work dinner in September 2018.
He was allegedly after it was found that he had supplied cocaine and ketamine to younger staff at an after-work event
On its website, 38 Degrees wrote: ‘The 38 Degrees Board has dismissed David Babbs from his role as Executive Director for gross misconduct. He was found to have provided illegal drugs to staff members – behaviour which failed to meet the standards expected of him as Executive Director.
‘Separately the board has commissioned an independent external investigation into a number of other allegations which have been made relating to David’s conduct. We’ve launched this investigation to determine the facts about what happened, and are committed to seeing this process through. The allegations do not relate to any alleged financial impropriety and do not in any way imperil the financial position or assets of 38 Degrees.
’38 Degrees is unwavering in our determination to hold those in power to the highest possible standards. We are holding ourselves to the same standards.
Mr Babbs has previously said that he founded 38 Degrees after becoming inspired by the march against the Iraq War in 2003
‘The Board considers the welfare of our staff to be one of our highest priorities. We are also conducting a review to ensure our processes and procedures live up to that commitment. We’re working closely with our senior leadership team to ensure 38 Degrees continues to champion people power, at a time in British politics when our voices are needed more than ever.’
It is understood that further complaints have been made about Mr Babbs’ alleged ’emotional abuse’ of staff, particularly young women.
One source claimed: ‘He would make people feel uncomfortable, and he would talk down to females. There were often people crying in the toilets after he’d finished with them.’
Another person described Mr Babbs as a ‘merciless bully’.