A minister in Andy Burnham’s new cabinet is facing allegations of bullying, The i Paper has been told.
Complaints relating to the minister’s alleged conduct are understood to have been raised through informal channels with officials in the Cabinet Office, where the Propriety and Ethics team are based.
No formal complaint was made and no process has been initiated. The individual is likely to deny the allegations.
Bullying allegations in Westminster are notoriously difficult to prove. The intense daily pressures mean behaviour can be misinterpreted, and what may be considered fair pressure by some can be seen as bullying by others.
It is unclear if the minister is aware of the claims.
It is not yet known if the Prime Minister was made aware of the allegations against the minister before appointing them, but he may now face scrutiny over the due diligence carried out before the decision.
Burnham has argued culture in Parliament needs reform
Addressing standards and behaviour in Westminster has been a central part of Burnham’s pitch to Labour MPs since returning to frontline politics.
He has repeatedly argued that Parliament’s culture remains in need of significant reform and has spoken about the changes he has observed since leaving Westminster in 2017.
In an email sent to Labour colleagues earlier this month, Burnham pledged to tackle workplace issues and improve standards across the party. He wrote: “I will lead from the front on culture change, political direction and narrative.”
These latest allegations are likely to raise questions about what checks and due diligence were carried out before Burnham unveiled his first Cabinet. The Prime Minister’s first major act in office was to appoint his senior ministerial team, which met for the first time on Tuesday.
The revelation is likely to raise questions about what checks and due diligence were carried out ahead of the appointment of the new cabinet.
Burnham – who has been out of Parliament for 10 years and so has few working relationships with any of them – relied on advice from First Secretary of State Louse Haigh and Chief Whip Anneliese Midgley to make the appointments on his first day in office, The i Paper previously revealed.
There is no suggestion Haigh or Midgley were aware of the allegations.
Dossier compiled on conduct of more than 30 MPs
Ahead of Burnham taking office this week, a dossier detailing allegations of bullying, harassment and inappropriate conduct by more than 30 MPs and ministers was compiled and circulated among senior figures.
It was previously reported that the document included allegations involving at least three senior ministers and two former ministers. While no findings have been made against those named, the list was intended to inform discussions about appointments and workplace culture within the parliamentary party.
A source close to Burnham previously indicated that the information in the dossier would be given careful consideration.
The issue of behaviour in Parliament has remained a recurring challenge for successive governments.
The so-called “Pestminster” scandal in 2017 prompted the creation of the Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS), an independent body designed to investigate allegations of bullying, harassment and sexual misconduct across Westminster.
Despite those reforms, a number of high-profile cases have continued to emerge. These include the resignation of former Conservative deputy chief whip Chris Pincher after allegations that he groped two men in 2022, as well as the departure of former Conservative MP Neil Parish after he admitted watching pornography in the House of Commons chamber the same year.
In 2023 Dominic Raab resigned as Justice Secretary after an independent investigation upheld some complaints against him.
While barrister Adam Tolley KC did conclude a description of bullying had been met, he also concluded regarding complaints made when Raab was Justice Secretary that the then-minister “did not intend by the conduct described to upset or humiliate”, nor did he “target anyone for a specific type of treatment”.
It is understood that while issues have been raised with the Cabinet Office, there has been no formal complaint.
A Government spokesperson said: “There is a process for raising complaints and none have been received.”
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