Yana Peel has resigned as chief executive of the Serpentine Gallery on the eve of this year’s pavilion opening, citing a “toxic” lobbying campaign against her husband.

The gallery issued a statement this morning just as the annual press preview was due to take place. Last night it emailed journalists without explanation postponing the event by 48 hours. 

Peel said she had been on the receiving end of a “concerted lobbying campaign against my husband’s investments” and warned that such “bullying” would “risk an erosion of private support” for the arts.

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