David Miscavige “embarrassed” by the UK, orders execs to “do something drastic” to reverse Scientology’s decline

Reclusive Scientology leader David Miscavige told executives he was “embarrassed” by the state of Scientology in the UK and ordered them to “do something drastic” to handle mounting public pressure, an inside source has told us.

In an exclusive interview with Scientology Business, a church executive revealed that following the gathering of the International Association of Scientologists (IAS) in East Grinstead, Sussex last October Miscavige chaired an emergency 7-hour summit during which he ordered staff to “handle” the UK.

The IAS event took place across the weekend of October 31st – 2nd November 2025 despite growing local resentment after it was revealed the church had failed to apply for planning permission for the mammoth 85,000 square foot structures erected to host the gathering. Mid-Sussex District Council issued Scientology with a Planning Contravention Notice in 2024, and an application for a Lawful Development Certificate was subsequently denied ahead of last year’s event. The church proceeded to build the giant temporary structures regardless, causing severe damage to land on their property, which sits protected Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Local residents took to social media to complain about the disruption caused by the thousands of attendees flocking to the property and local papers reported Tom Cruise flying in on his helicopter brought “chaos” to the town.

In light of the growing protest movement against the organisation’s abusive practices and the international media attention it has brought to the issue, Miscavige called executives to their UK headquarters for a dressing down before he headed back to the US on a private jet.

The meeting lasted seven hours and comprised of two parts. First the Executive Directors who head up Scientology’s churches in Europe were called, followed by a meeting just for those in charge of outposts in the UK.

Miscavige, known as Chairman of the Board (COB) inside the bubble, was “embarrassed” with the UK, according to our source.

When one executive said “wow” after being told Africa was out-performing the UK Miscavige reportedly shot back, snapping “No. Not wow. That’s embarrassing.” Scientology recently opened a new ‘Ideal Org’ in Port Elizabeth, South Africa – one of the highlights of the event and seen as a sign of the church’s ‘global expansion’ despite the building remaining largely empty shortly after the grand opening.

Our source tells us the executives left the meeting “depressed” after being ordered to “do something drastic” to “handle” Scientology’s decline in the United Kingdom.

The news comes amidst mounting pressure from local government officials, with the church’s Premises Licence set to be reviewed by Mid-Sussex District Council next week. The licence allows Scientology to hold large events at it’s UK headquarters and risks being revoked due to allegations of failing to comply with obligations under the Licensing Act 2003. The complaint alleges the church are not doing what they should in order to protect children from harm and prevent public nuisance, crime and disorder.

Miscavige has acquired a reputation for flipping out at staff in the past, with dozens of former senior executives describing physical beatings, hard manual labour, interrogations and imprisonment at a prison camp in California known as ‘The Hole’.

Several lawsuits have been filed in the United States accusing the reclusive leader of harassment, human trafficking and harsh punishments. His representatives and the church of course deny the allegations.