Dominic Raab’s staff were ‘bullied and harassed’ according to leaked documents
According to the leaked survey at least 15 staff reported witnessing another person being bullied or treated unfairly.
Staff in Dominic Raab’s office claimed to have been ‘bullied or harassed’, according to leaked documents.
According to data from a poll, carried out in 2019, at least 15 staff reported witnessing another person being bullied or treated unfairly.
It also showed eight people believed they had been ‘bullied or harrassed’ whilst at work.
The results, published by ITV News, were anonymous, meaning it is not possible to ascertain the subject of the claims.
The findings emerged as Mr Raab, now the Justice Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister, has been accused of acting in a ‘rude’ and ‘aggressive’ manner towards civil servants.
This has prompted fresh questions from opposition leaders over Rishi Sunak’s judgment in choosing his top team.
Multiple sources have alleged the Cabinet minister created a ‘culture of fear’ during his previous stint in the Ministry of Justice (MoJ).
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But some Tories have come to his defence, with Helen Grant, MP for Maidstone and The Weald, saying she witnessed a ‘very decent’ minister with ‘high professional standards’.
Fellow Conservative MP Eddie Hughes said he had never seen Mr Raab be rude to anyone when he worked in the housing and Brexit departments.
ITV News said 40% of those surveyed in Mr Raab’s private office reported personal experience of bullying or harassment.
But it also pointed out only 20 people were asked the question due to the small scale of the team, and seven did not respond.
Mr Raab’s conduct has come under scrutiny in recent days, with it being reported the Justice Secretary has acquired the nickname ‘The Incinerator’ because he ‘burns through’ staff.
It was also claimed Mr Raab once hurled tomatoes from a salad across a room in a fit of anger – an allegation branded ‘rotten’ by shadow minister David Lammy.
A spokesman Mr Raab said the salad claim was ‘nonsense’.
One source alleged the Cabinet Office had been informed of concerns over Mr Raab’s behaviour when he was Brexit secretary, according to ITV News.
On Saturday, The Observer reported that the correspondence took the form of a document alleging ‘unprofessional, even bullying, conduct of the minister towards his private office’.
The ‘formal expression of concern’ was said to have been sent by a senior official in the Brexit department.
But the Cabinet Office said it had ‘no record of any formal complaints’.
Insiders have insisted the Justice Secretary does not engage in bullying of any kind, acknowledging he is ‘direct’ but rates his team highly.
They denied any suggestion he does not behave in a professional manner, adding they do not recognise the ‘Incinerator’ nickname or the idea there has been a high turnover of staff working with him.
The allegations could prove troublesome for Mr Sunak, whose choice of Cabinet colleagues has already been called into question.
The Prime Minister came under fire for reappointing Sir Gavin Williamson to his senior team despite being told he was under investigation for allegedly bullying former chief whip Wendy Morton.
Mr Sunak also faced criticism for reinstating Suella Braverman as Home Secretary six days after she was forced to quit over a security breach.
A spokesman for Mr Raab said: ‘Dominic has high standards, works hard, and expects a lot from his team as well as himself.
‘He has worked well with officials to drive the Government’s agenda across Whitehall in multiple Government departments and always acts with the utmost professionalism.’
It is understood no formal complaints have been made against him.
The Foreign Office said it would not comment on leaked internal personnel or HR processes.
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