UNITED KINGDOM
Relations between UK Public Servants and their Ministers have sunk to a new low, sources within the Service say.
PS staff who work directly with Ministers are demanding urgent changes to complaints procedures to protect them from what many claim is a rise in aggressive and bullying behaviour by their bosses.
Following a string of cases in which Ministers have clashed with their officials and allegedly sought to blame them for policy failings or other problems, the three main unions representing Whitehall’s PS staff have launched a joint campaign calling for clear and transparent systems to stamp out harassment.
In one of the latest cases, unions wrote to the Permanent Secretary in the Department of Business, Alex Chisholm to raise concerns over claims that Minister for Energy, Claire Perry (pictured) had sworn and screamed at her PS staff.
Incidents reported to the unions allegedly included Ms Perry texting one PS staffer to say “fuck off” and writing “what’s this shit?” on a memo produced by her staff.
Ms Perry has declined to comment on the allegations.
Whitehall sources say relations between the Public Service and Ministers have become more fractious recently, particularly after extra pressures caused by the UK’s impending departure from the European Union (Brexit).
Departments have found themselves struggling with increased workloads and distracted from their normal duties by the challenges of preparing for 29 March next year, when Brexit is due to take place.
In another case, Steve Baker, when a Minister, was forced to apologise after publicly criticising PS staff, while Secretary for the Environment, Michael Gove has reportedly on many occasions criticised PS employees as lazy and, when Secretary for Education, dismissed them as “the blob”.
A Government spokesperson said that within the Public Service, “we are absolutely committed to ensuring that all staff are treated with dignity and respect, by everyone they come into contact with, irrespective of seniority or position”.
London, 30 November 2018
