No-one should have to endure bullying in the workplace

AFTER weeks of speculation, the arrival of Adam Tolley KC’s investigation into allegations of bullying against Dominic Raab has finally done for the Deputy Prime Minister, resulting in his resignation from high office.

The report concluded Mr Raab engaged in an “abuse or misuse of power” that “undermines or humiliates” while Foreign Secretary.

Details that have so far emerged seem damning of Mr Raab’s conduct.

He was found to have displayed “unreasonably and persistently aggressive” conduct in a meeting; threatened staff over breaching the civil service code; acted “unreasonably and persistently aggressive” conduct in a meeting, making comments which were likely to “humiliate” and be interpreted as “unfairly personal criticism”. But allegations of banging tables, and swearing were not upheld.

Mr Raab himself, however, has ‘come out swinging’ as some commentators have observed. He criticised the bullying inquiry that led to his resignation as “Kafkaesque” as he suggested civil servants had tried to force him out of office.

In his resignation letter he told PM Rishi Sunak: “Whilst I feel duty bound to accept the outcome of the inquiry, it dismissed all but two of the claims levelled against me. I also believe that its two adverse findings are flawed and set a dangerous precedent for the conduct of good government.”

Mr Raab isn’t the first to face such accusations, indeed it wasn’t so long ago that the then Home Secretary Priti Patel was facing similar allegations after a showdown with her top civil servant, a case that was settled before coming to tribunal. Clearly in such hard-nosed and high octane environments of Westminster and Whitehall, where ideals and policies are being pushed, and principles of the public good, value for taxpayers’ money, international negotiations and national progress are concerned, eggs are going to be broken. Strong personalities are needed when dealing with opposing interests. That is what we expect of our elected public servants. Robust debate and argument must be allowed to flourish.

But where precisely should the line be drawn?

According to guidelines on the Government’s own website, bullying and harassment is behaviour that ‘makes someone feel intimidated or offended’. Bullying itself is not against the law, but harassment is unlawful under the Equality Act 2010. Examples of bullying or harassing behaviour include spreading malicious rumours, unfair treatment, picking on or regularly undermining someone, or denying someone’s training or promotion opportunities.

No-one should have to endure such behaviour against them in the workplace, or elsewhere for that matter.

What is clear, from a broader political perspective, is that this latest departure is not a good look for a Government struggling to get off the back foot. Mr Sunak may have thought he was making inroads into the dire poll ratings left to him by his predecessor Liz Truss. But with time ticking, and indeed with his own difficulties shaking off claims over he and his wife’s financial interests, he will need to look for some big wins soon.