A Home Office worker has been fired for sharing a social media post by Reform deputy leader Richard Tice in a damning blow to free speech.
Gary Costin was dismissed from his job after 15 years of working for government contractors Mitie and G4S for sharing the MP's response to a GB News article about a Muslim lobbying group.
The original article reported that members of the Home Office's Islamic staff network aimed to recruit Muslim staff to "influence policymakers" and support "Muslim needs".
Costin then forwarded the post on WhatsApp, which was followed by his suspension in April 2024.
A Home Office worker has been fired for sharing a social media post by Reform deputy leader Richard Tice
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Mitie then dismissed the 57-year-old, yet the company accepted that he did not mean to cause any offence by his actions.
Costin's primary role involved the removal of violent foreign criminals from Britain, helping to lead teams that accompanied criminals aboard flights back to their home countries, including Afghanistan, Somalia and Sierra Leone.
Those who were facing deportation included murderers, rapists and drug dealers.
Some of the network's aims which had been shown to the People's Channel involved seeking to promote "a clear understanding of generic Islam" and provide "advice and guidance to senior civil service management on religious issues that affect Muslim staff".
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Responding to the article, Tice posted: "SHOCKING REVELATIONS: Large Islamic Network inside Home Office, now suspended, appears to have been deliberately undermining government policy.
"How many other departments have similar? Answers needed urgently. Possible national security issues at stake."
When he shared the post, Costin did not comment on its content.
The next day, it was revealed that an anonymous complaint to Mitie's whistleblowing hotline led to his initial suspension.
The man was sacked after he shared a post by Richard Tice
PA
The complainant claimed that he had "spread hatred" towards Muslims and his actions amounted to "bullying".
It is understood that the post was described as "an insult to all my Muslim colleagues" and had "done nothing but spread hate", The Telegraph reported.
Costin said: “I have lost almost everything. I have nothing whatsoever against Muslims. It was a purely factual message, on a small WhatsApp group we used to share information relevant to our work.
"It was normal to post news headlines that could affect overseas removals. I have absolutely no idea how anyone could see it as spreading hatred or bullying."
