London Development Agency director sacked over racist language

A director at Boris Johnson’s London Development Agency (LDA) has been sacked for using the word n***** during a meeting.

Nick Hoare, an interim director at the LDA, was fired on Tuesday (27 October) within hours of allegedly using the word during a meeting. Three staff members who were at the meeting filed formal complaints.

The LDA is the Mayor’s body responsible for business and jobs, and it also has a role championing equality and diversity.

A source told the London Evening Standard it was “racist language completely out of place in a working environment”.

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Hoare had been working as the LDA’s interim director of contracts management and commissioning since July, and had previously worked in Whitehall for the Department of Communities and Local Government.

A spokesman for the agency said: “All individuals representing the LDA are expected to uphold the highest standards of professionalism in all of their dealings with colleagues and members of the public.”