Britain’s civil service union has urged Andy Burnham to strip himself of the power to rule on bullying complaints against ministers.
The FDA is warning that Whitehall officials are often too frightened to come forward because they do not trust the system.
FDA general secretary Dave Penman, in a letter seen by The i Paper, tells the incoming Prime Minister existing arrangements leave ministers effectively policing themselves and are no longer fit for a modern workplace.
It comes as Burnham’s team is expected – before he appoints a Cabinet – to be handed a copy of a secret Labour “Pestminster” dossier containing allegations of bullying, harassment and inappropriate behaviour against more than 30 Westminster figures.
The letter, sent ahead of Burnham’s appointment as Prime Minister on Monday, calls on him to break with his predecessors by establishing a fully independent process to investigate bullying and harassment allegations against ministers.
The union wants the system under which the PM remains, in the words of the Ministerial Code, “the ultimate judge” of complaints, changed. Penman said this is one way Burnham could demonstrate his commitment to “changing our political culture.”
Penman argues that under the current system civil servants who wish to make a complaint have no clear, written process explaining how their complaint will be handled and have no formal rights as complainants. The same lack of procedural rights applies to ministers who are the subject of complaints.
Speaking exclusively to The i Paper he said he had heard from civil servants across multiple departments who believed ministers were engaging in bullying behaviour but were unwilling to make formal complaints.
He stressed that the issue was not about ministers being demanding or setting high standards.“We’re not talking about robust, demanding ministers. Civil servants actually like those, because they are clear about what they want and will make decision,” he said.
“What they have described is systematic bullying. Being publicly undermined and humiliated. Constant, deliberate behaviour.”
Yet despite those concerns, Penman said officials were refusing to come forward because they had no confidence complaints would be handled fairly.
“No one has confidence in a system when the individual who put that minister there in the first place is the same person who determines the outcome of a complaint.
“So they’re trapped. Their only choice is to leave the very job at the heart of government that for many is the pinnacle of their career, or put up with behaviours that can be hugely damaging to their health and wellbeing.”
In his letter, Penman argues that the flaws in the current system go beyond the prime minister’s role as final arbiter.
“Not only is it the prime minister who is the decision maker, but the whole process is shrouded in mystery.
“No process, no rights, or ability to challenge an outcome from either side,” he said.
“How can this be where we are in a modern workplace? No transparent process and the decision maker is inherently conflicted.
“I can completely understand why a civil servant would have zero confidence in raising a complaint against what is ultimately one of the most powerful people in the country.”
The FDA chief drew a direct comparison with Parliament’s own reckoning over bullying and harassment, arguing that Westminster only began to uncover the true scale of the problem when MPs stopped “marking their own homework” and an independent grievance process was introduced.
“Not a single complaint in five years, yet when they launched an inquiry, hundreds of staff came forward with details of bullying and harassment,” he said.
There is growing interest in Labour’s so-called Pestminster list – a confidential dossier reportedly compiled by a group of Labour MPs, staffers and special advisers.
One Labour insider previously told LBC that it identifies people “thought to be sex pests, accused of being bullies, being creepy”, prompting concerns among some party figures that it could influence appointments to Burnham’s first ministerial team.
Penman said the relationship between ministers and civil servants inevitably involves a significant imbalance of power, making it essential that robust safeguards are in place.”
The union is proposing a two-stage process under which allegations would first be investigated independently before any political decisions are taken on sanctions.
Hence then, the article about union demands burnham strips himself of power to rule on bullying complaints was published today ( ) and is available on inews ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Union demands Burnham strips himself of power to rule on bullying complaints )
Also on site :
- World Cup's First Halftime Show Divides Fans, Sparking Backlash
- Shakira, Madonna, BTS, Justin Bieber & More Take Over FIFA’s First-Ever World Cup Final Halftime Show
- ‘Obsession’, ‘The Invite’ & ‘Young Washington’ Power On, ‘Maddie’s Secret’ Tops $1 Million — Specialty Box Office