Left-wing group sacks co-founder who gave drugs to junior staff
THE founder of a Left-wing campaign group has been sacked after he gave illegal drugs to younger staff members, The Daily Telegraph can disclose.
David Babbs, who co-founded 38 Degrees, was dismissed from his £75,000 role as executive director after an investigation found that he had supplied cocaine and ketamine at an afterwork event. The matter has been referred to police.
Mr Babbs, a 37-year-old Cambridge graduate, is also understood to be facing a separate investigation over claims that he bullied and swore at staff.
He has also stepped down from his position on the board of The Woodland Trust, which he joined last year.
38 Degrees, co-founded by Body Shop entrepreneur Gordon Roddick, claims to be an independent group, but critics have claimed its membership is dominated by Left-wingers. It has two million members and last year received more than £5.6 million in donations, according to its accounts.
Last year it funded the Trump Baby balloon, which was flown in protest during the US president’s official visit to the United Kingdom in July.
The Daily Telegraph has spoken to several sources at the group, who suggested that Mr Babbs’s use of drugs was “common knowledge”. In 2014 he spoke at the launch of the Psychedelic Society, which campaigns for the legalisation of mind-altering substances.
Insiders claimed that he would invite groups of new starters, including interns, to his home and offer them drugs including cocaine, ketamine, mushrooms and MDMA. He would do the same at summer and Christmas parties, sources claimed.
“Everyone knew about it. David was very open,” one told The Telegraph. “He was always off his face at work parties and would offer people coke. It was very strange, especially to young people who had only just joined. I didn’t think it was any way to run a business.”
A spokesman for 38 Degrees told The Telegraph that the incident in question took place at an after-work dinner in September 2018. After being alerted by a member of staff in February the group sacked Mr Babbs and passed the matter to the police.
An independent external investigation into “a number of other allegations” made about Mr Babbs’s conduct has now been launched, the spokesman said. It is understood this relates to complaints made about his 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”. “He would tell people their work was s---, and he would shout at them,” they alleged.
Srabani Sen, chairman of 38 Degrees, said: “We take these allegations extremely seriously. The board have alerted the police and await next steps.”
Mr Babbs told The Telegraph: “I’m glad there’s going to be a thorough independent investigation. I believe I will be cleared of the allegations under investigation.
“I don’t think I should say any more than that whilst it is under way.”