By GB News (World News) | Created at 2025-03-21 22:46:11 | Updated at 2025-03-22 04:07:06
5 hours ago
A former Home Office worker was almost made homeless after being sacked for sharing a post by Reform UK MP Richard Tice.
Gary Costin was dismissed from his job after 15 years of working for government contractors Mitie and G4S, after sharing Tice's response to a GB News article about a Muslim lobbying group on WhatsApp.
Speaking to GB News, Costin told host Matt Goodwin that he was investigated for "six months" following a suspension, and was accused of being a "racist and a bully" by the individual who made the allegation.
Costin explained: "Last April, this WhatsApp post was sent to me, and I put it on another post, which was with 12 of my colleagues and my peers.
Gary Costin was suspended and sacked after sharing a post on WhatsApp from Richard Tice
PA / GB News
"A couple of days after I'd actually posted it, I was called into the office when I was meant to be going away on the charter and was asked the question, did I actually post this, and I said yes. So they said, well, in that case, we need to investigate this, and they suspended me there and then."
The original article reported that members of the network aimed to recruit Muslim staff to "influence policymakers" and support "Muslim needs".
Tice had posted: "SHOCKING REVELATIONS: Large Islamic Network inside Home Office, now suspended, appears to have been deliberately undermining government policy."
Mitie ultimately dismissed him for breaching their social media policy, though Costin argued: "WhatsApp wasn't social media, it's a messaging platform."
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Detailing his ordeal, Costin said: "I then spent the next six months being investigated, had a disciplinary meeting planned around June, and that was cancelled. They then decided to interview supposedly all the other colleagues on the WhatsApp group, but they managed to actually find, I think, 7 or 8 out of the 12, although they had stated from the start they knew who everyone was.
"I wasn't sacked until November the 7th last year, and so they kept me waiting and six, seven months."
The dismissal has had severe personal consequences for Costin, affecting both his financial stability and personal relationships.
He told GB News: "It's affected my marriage - thankfully, my wife and I have now got over this, but we had a real tough time of it. I was worried at one stage of losing the flat that I live in, that I rent. I've had to sell my car to help pay bills.
Costin told GB News that he almost lost his home as a result of the investigation
GB News
"I did go to the doctors to take antidepressants, but because I'm stubborn and dread about the antidepressants, I decided in the end not to and basically got through without that."
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.
