Oxfam chief executive to face calls to resign as he is confronted by MPs over Haiti sex scandal

The head of Oxfam will face calls by MPs to resign over his handling of the Haiti sex scandal amid mounting criticism of his leadership. 

Mark Goldring, the chief executive of Oxfam, will be accused of making "grave errors" in his response to the scandal when he appears before the International Development select committee.

It has now emerged the charity chief is also part of a probe at the charity, following a complaint made last month over how senior management had responded to requests to re-open a 2010 case involving allegations of sexual abuse.

It came as the Prime Minister described the behaviour of Oxfam staff "horrific" and warned that charities will be denied Government funding if they fail to protect the people they are supposed to be helping.

Oxfam has been accused of covering up a 2011 report which found that staff had used prostitutes in Haiti and sexually exploited employees. The report said that suspicions underage sex workers had been exploited "cannot be ruled out". 

Mr Goldring, who was appointed in 2013, faced criticism for claiming last week that the scrutiny facing Oxfam "makes you wonder" whether the members of the charity had "murdered babies in their cots".

Nigel Evans, a senior Tory member of the International Development Committee, said: “He [Mr Goldring] will be asked ‘does he not believe that Oxfam will be in better shape with new direction at the top.

"If it transpires that he should have acted more quickly to rectify the problems that have come to light then he should consider his position.

"The real problem is he has made a grave error in that interview he gave to the Guardian where he is almost saying 'what's the big deal'? 

"Well the big deal is that subscriptions have been cancelled, ambassadors have quit their jobs and there has been a general outcry. That is what the fuss is about and he doesn't quite seem to get that."

The Prime Minister said on Monday that Oxfam had fallen "far below the standards we expect". She also highlighted alleged physical intimidation of whistleblowers during Oxfam's internal investigation.

She said: "This is absolutely horrific. This is exactly the problem that we see which means that all too often people don't feel able to come forward to report what has happened to them, the behaviour that they've been on the receiving end of."

At the same time, the charity formally apologised to the government of Haiti. Two senior figures met the country's minister of planning and external co-operation.

Simon Ticehurst, Oxfam's regional director for Latin America and the Caribbean, said: "We came here to share the report with the minister and express our shame and apologies to the Haitian government and to the Haitian people."

It comes after Brendan Cox, the widower of murdered MP Jo Cox, resigned from a charity in his wife's name after admitting that he caused women "hurt and offence" while working as a senior executive at Save the Children.

Mrs May said that Mr Cox had recognised "his behaviour made women feel uncomfortable".

She said: "I think what is important from a government point of view in dealing with these charities is we are demanding that these charities come forward in very short order and show us what their safeguarding, their protection arrangements are.

"We will not work with anybody who does not meet the high standards that we set and we believe are important."

Oxfam declined to comment.