Misan Harriman to Step Down as Southbank Centre Chair Amid Controversy

Misan Harriman will not seek another term as chair of the Southbank Centre, announcing he will step down in the autumn after a period of intense pressure. The decision follows accusations that he shared a conspiracy theory regarding the Golders Green attack and made controversial comments about Reform voters.

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It’s semi-public knowledge that my term is coming to an end anyway … I had decided way before this madness that I was going to do two terms.

Harriman, who has held the position since 2021, confirmed his departure in a social media post. He stated that his term was already coming to an end and that he had decided to leave after completing two terms, a decision made well before the recent controversies. He noted that the process to find his successor would begin in the autumn.

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It takes a long time to find whoever the next chair will be, and that process will begin at some point, and I’ll update you more on exact dates and timelines probably in autumn.

His departure comes after a month of significant scrutiny. In May, The Telegraph accused Harriman of sharing a social media post that questioned the coverage given to the Muslim victim of the Golders Green attack, which critics argued risked minimizing the antisemitic nature of the incident. He also faced criticism for comments made after England's local election results, where he quoted Susan Sontag in a video discussing the implications of Reform's gains, drawing comparisons to the Holocaust.

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She said when thinking about the Holocaust, 10% of people in any population are cruel no matter what, and 10% is merciful no matter what and the other – this is important – the other remaining 80% could be moved in either direction. It’s such a profound way to look at us. In the context of yesterday’s election result, it is something which I think is really topical.

Despite the criticism, Harriman praised the Southbank Centre's board and highlighted recent successful events, including Harry Styles' Meltdown festival and exhibitions by Anish Kapoor and Nan Goldin, as evidence of the institution's strong health. He called the Southbank Centre, which is celebrating its 75th year in 2026, "a sacred 11 acres" and expressed continued pride in his role. A number of prominent figures, including Greta Thunberg, Tracey Emin, and Gary Lineker, signed an open letter in support of Harriman, describing the media attention as a "dishonest smear campaign."

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It’s a sacred 11 acres and I am still very proud to be chair.