Former Co-operative Bank chair Rev Paul Flowers has resigned from his position as trustee of Terrence Higgins Trust after weekend newspaper reports showed evidence of the Methodist minister buying hard drugs.
Flowers (pictured) stepped down from the Trust on the weekend as the Mail on Sunday published a video showing the banker apparently buying hard drugs and soliciting ketamine. This followed days after Flowers appeared before MPs to account for his time running the ethical bank and appeared unable to answer basic questions about the Co-operative’s assets.
Flowers had been a board member at Terrence Higgins Trust since 2011 and was not paid in the role. The Trust does not bank with the Co-operative.
A Terrence Higgins Trust spokesman said: “I confirm that Rev Paul Flowers has stepped down from his role as trustee, a position he has held for just under two years. We can not make any further comment at this time.”
The Methodist Church has also suspended Flowers, and said it will co-operate with any police investigation. "We expect high standards of our ministers and we have procedures in place for when ministers fail to meet those standards," its statement read.
"Paul is suspended from duties for a period of three weeks, pending investigations, and will not be available to carry out any ministerial work.”
Rev Flowers also issued a statement through the church, citing a tough year with a family death and work pressures. “At the lowest point in this terrible period, I did things that were stupid and wrong. I am sorry for this, and I am seeking professional help, and apologise to all I have hurt or failed by my actions."
Flowers had previously been a board member at drug and alcohol charity Lifeline, but the relationship was not current.
Lifeline issued a statement: “Trustees at Lifeline are disappointed to hear the news regarding Rev Paul Flowers this week. Paul Flowers and Lifeline parted company in 2004. While we understand the press interest in this story, we have no knowledge of his current situation, his various duties or his activities. Accordingly, we will not be making further comment.”
