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Britain's richest plumber and Reform donor Charlie Mullins threatened with being stripped of OBE after calling for migrants to be 'sent back to the jungle'

Britain's richest plumber and Reform donor Charlie Mullins threatened with being stripped of OBE after calling for migrants to be 'sent back to the jungle'

Charlie Mullins was threatened with being stripped of his OBE for a second time after calling for Channel migrants to be 'sent back to the jungle'.

The Honours Forfeiture Committee wrote to the multi-millionaire plumber after a member of the public claimed the tweet was racist, though he maintains that 'the jungle' was a reference to migrant camps in northern France.

Mr Mullins was first accused by the committee of bringing the honours system into disrepute in September 2024 over a series of posts on X.

The Pimlico Plumbers founder, who fled the UK for Marbella to escape Labour's tax rises, was later told no action would be taken after submissions from his lawyers - including a pledge to undertake 'gender sensitivity and diversity training'. 

This June, the prominent Reform supporter received another letter from the committee informing him that he was being investigated over a tweet about the small boats crisis. 

His tweet read: 'Paying tax does not bother me I've paid over £ 100 m in personal tax in my lifetime,

'What bothers me what they spend our tax on anybody but English,

'They will. never get another penny off of me to give all the illegals and the ponces,

'Send them back to the jungle.'

Charlie Mullins now lives in a luxury villa in Marbella after fleeing Labour's tax raids 

The Honours Forfeiture Committee wrote to Mr Mullins after a member of the public claimed the tweet was racist. He maintains that 'the jungle' was a reference to migrant camps in France

The member of the public who reported Mr Mullins claimed the phrase 'send them back to the jungle' was racist. 

But he pointed out that migrant shanty towns around Calais and Dunkirk have often been referred to as 'jungles', most notably the notorious 'Calais Jungle', which existed from 2015 to 2016. 

Mr Mullins told the Mail: 'They were trying to claim I was being racist by using the word "jungle", but that's what everyone refers to these camps as - including all the newspapers.

'The person who reported it was obviously just looking for something to take the OBE away.

'It's stupidity. When I said "Send them back to the jungle" I meant the migrant camps. I'm told they're not very nice to live in and that's exactly what I meant. Then by ponces, I meant the illegals scrounging off taxpayers.'

Lawyers for Mr Mullins responded to the committee's letter with a 26-page document explaining the context of the tweet and setting out the case for why he should retain his OBE, which he was awarded in 2015 for services to plumbing. 

While the committee has now said it will be dropping the case, Mr Mullins claims he is being victimised because of his political beliefs.

'They've now tried twice to take my OBE away,' he said.

'I get on very well with the King. I've seen him a few times and we always have a good chat about plumbing.

'I don't think it's come from him personally. It's the Labour government. It's politically motivated.

'It's victimisation and it's quite aggressive. Every time this happens it costs me money in legal fees, and they're not cheap.'

The Forfeiture Committee is convened on an ad hoc basis by the Prime Minister and chaired by senior civil servant Dame Sarah Healey.

In its first letter to Mr Mullins in September 2024, it raised concerns about a post on X in which he had said 'someone should kill' London Mayor Sadiq Khan during a discussion about London's Ulez scheme.

It also highlighted a comment about Carol Vorderman on GB News, remarks about not wanting to employ transgender people and accusations he made a racist joke at the British curry awards. 

In response, Mr Mullins insisted the threshold for forfeiture had not been met and argued that his comments were protected by the right to freedom of expression.

His lawyers said the businessman had been struggling with mental health issues at the time of the remarks and had apologised.

In interviews, he accused then-prime minister Sir Keir Starmer of orchestrating a politically motivated attack.

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Migrant camps around Calais and Dunkirk have often been referred to as 'jungles', most notably the notorious 'Calais Jungle' (pictured), which existed from 2015 to 2016

Mr Mullins received his OBE in the 2015 New Year Honours while David Cameron was prime minister.

At the time, he was a supporter of the Conservatives and donated £22,735 to the party that year.

But in 2024, he said he was leaving the UK to avoid what he described as Rachel Reeves' 'tax raids', opting instead to invest his money in property in Spain and Dubai.

Mr Mullins vowed not to return to the UK unless Nigel Farage became Prime Minister. However, he now says he may remain in Spain even under a Reform government because of his concerns about the direction and condition of Britain.

He also vowed that his new plumbing and home-services company, WeFix, would not serve Labour MPs.

'We won't work for any Labour MPs. We don't go near Leftists or woke people,' he added.

A Government spokesman said previously: 'Claims that the Forfeiture Committee is politically motivated are completely unfounded and inaccurate.

'The Forfeiture Committee is entirely apolitical and no ministers or political appointees are involved in any of its decision making.'

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Blake Lively looked as if she had some new pep in her step when she was spotted out in New York City on Tuesday night in a stunning little black dress.

The 39-year-old Gossip Girl star was spotted out in Manhattan's Upper East Side for an event celebrating the launch of jeweler Brent Neale's new holiday collection, according to E! News.

Although Lively was reportedly joined by friends, her husband Ryan Reynolds, 50, didn't appear by her side.

The Daily Mail has reached out to Lively's representative for comment but hasn't yet heard back. 

Lively – who recently revealed her over-the-top beauty regimen – channeled classic glamour in her skimpy black dress, which was decorated with glittering sequins.

The off-the-shoulder minidress featured a playful black bow that covered her cleavage for a touch of modesty.

Blake Lively looked as if she had some new pep in her step when she was spotted out in New York City on Tuesday night in a stunning little black dress

The 39-year-old Gossip Girl star was spotted out in Manhattan's Upper West Side for an event celebrating the launch of jeweler Brent Neale's new holiday collection, according to E! News

Lively – who recently revealed her over-the-top beauty regimen – channeled classic glamour in her skimpy black dress, which was decorated with glittering sequins

Lively's short skirt showcased her toned legs, which culminated in clear Louboutins that strapped around her ankles and featured black-tipped toes.

The It Ends with Us star, who is stepping out in the wake of her bruising legal drama with her former costar and director Justin Baldoni, wore her long blond hair in dramatic waves cascading down her shoulders.

She completed her glamorous ensemble with a simple black leather hobo handbag, and she added some extra sparkle with dangling earrings and multiple enormous sparkling rings.

Lively looked as if she was on top of the world as she beamed for photographers outside the shindig.

The outing comes after Lively revealed the secrets of the beauty regimen she uses to look as if she's in the 'first trimester of life' last week.

The actress took to her Instagram Story to share a candid clip of the nighttime routine she uses to maintain her 'natural beauty.'

She appeared to be wearing headgear with red-light therapy over her hair, in addition to a sheet mask with extra pieces she had pasted to her bare face. 

The Gossip Girl alumna was also bundled up in a brown fleece hoodie while seemingly winding down for the night with her beauty routine.

The off-the-shoulder minidress featured a playful black bow that covered her cleavage for a touch of modesty

Lively's short skirt showcased her toned legs, which culminated in clear Louboutins that strapped around her ankles and featured black-tipped toes

The It Ends with Us star wore her long blond hair in dramatic waves cascading down her shoulders

She completed her glamorous ensemble with a simple black leather hobo handbag

Lively added some extra sparkle with dangling earrings and multiple enormous sparkling rings

Lively looked as if she was on top of the world as she beamed for photographers outside the shindig

The outing comes after Lively revealed the secrets of her beauty regimen last week

She joked that her go-to products make her look as if she's in the 'first trimester of life'

The actress took to her Instagram Story to share a candid clip of the nighttime routine she uses to maintain her 'natural beauty' 

Lively gave a glimpse into her cozy wind-down routine shortly after the drama involving her film It Ends With Us and her director and costar Justin Baldoni. 

'Natural beauty is effortless,' she quipped at the bottom of her post, which pictured her taking a deep breath while the mask covered her face.

Lively also drew thought bubbles around her face, and in one, she wrote: 'If I don't look like I'm in the first trimester of life after this much effort I quit.' 

She continued: 'I miss the 2000s when we just used that handsoap with fish characters on it on our face & called it a day.' 

The Gossip Girl star also noted the lights in the background of her room in another thought bubble: 'My kids' star projector that I stole is a vibe tho.'

She set her candid post to the tune of Fergie and Ludacris' 2006 smash hit Glamorous.

The mother of four – who shares James, 11; Inez, ten; Betty, seven; and Olin, three, with her husband Ryan Reynolds – often shares snippets of her hair and beauty routines on social media.

In August, she shared a video of herself getting ready in her bathroom before rushing out the door as a busy mother and businesswoman. 

The mother of four – who shares James, 11; Inez, ten; Betty, seven; and Olin, three, with her husband Ryan Reynolds – often shares snippets of her hair and beauty routines on social media; above with Reynolds in April 2025 in NYC

In August, she shared a video of herself getting ready in her bathroom before rushing out the door as a busy mother and businesswoman

Her post comes after she was in a legal battle with Baldoni, and the former costars settled right before their trial was set to begin. Baldoni was ultimately ordered to pay $400,000 of Lively's legal fees earlier this year; pictured together in It Ends With Us

'The look: no time but need to look cute while ALSO raising children,' the movie star, who was seen using products from her Blake Brown haircare brand, wrote over the clip. 

'Moment of truth: bun out after running around the city,' she continued, before almost running out the door with her pants unbuttoned.

Her post comes after she was in a legal battle with Baldoni, and the former costars settled right before their trial was set to begin. 

Baldoni was ultimately ordered to pay $400,000 of Lively's legal fees. 

Lively previously sued Baldoni and his production company Wayfarer in December 2024. 

Right before their trial was set to begin earlier this year, Lively was awarded just over $400,000 of the $8 million she sought in legal fees from their dispute due to his countersuit. 

In her lawsuit, Lively asserted that she was subjected to sexual harassment as well as retaliation, alleging he orchestrated a smear campaign to harm her reputation after she brought up complaints about his behavior on set.  

In response, Baldoni denied harassment and claimed Lively made complaints to seize creative control of the movie. 

In June 2025, the countersuit was thrown out. In May of this year, just two weeks before the scheduled trial date, the former costars reached their settlement.

They also released a joint statement, writing that they 'remain firmly committed to workplaces free of improprieties and unproductive environments.' 

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