Michael Gove leads furious criticism after peer who is a ‘champion for affordable housing’ is axed for his attack on terrorist group Hamas

Michael Gove led criticism last night of a housing association which suspended its chairman, the former Labour MP Ian Austin, over a post on social media attacking Hamas terrorists.

Birmingham-based Midland Heart housing association said Lord Austin had been suspended over a message on X calling Hamas ‘Islamist rapists and murderers’.

The peer has now deleted the post and apologised, clarifying that it was a reference to the Hamas terror group’s operations in Gaza.

But Midland Heart chiefs say they plan to hold a further meeting in two weeks to discuss Lord Austin’s removal from the board.

Michael Gove said he would be demanding an urgent explanation over the decision

Levelling Up Secretary Mr Gove said he would be demanding an ‘urgent meeting’ and an explanation over the decision, adding that Lord Austin was a ‘champion for affordable housing’ who had ‘spent his career fighting racism’.

In his post, Lord Austin had 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.’

He wrote this after the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine refugees had claimed it had been unaware that an operations centre used by Hamas terrorists was built directly under its office in war-torn Gaza.

Midland Heart chief executive Glenn Harris said Lord Austin had damaged the association’s reputation and angered its staff.

Lord Austin said: ‘I am shocked this has happened as a result of politically motivated bullies orchestrating a malicious campaign to smear me by misinterpreting comments and trying to undermine a lifetime’s work fighting racism.’