Lib Dem Media Team: 020 4548 3828 Press@libdems.org.uk
EMBARGO: IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Raab bullying: Lib Dems write to Cabinet Secretary demanding bullies be named

Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats Daisy Cooper has written the Simon Case, calling on the Cabinet Office to publish a list of Ministers who have credible allegations of bullying made against them. 

The Lib Dems are also calling on the Cabinet Office to confirm if credible allegations were made against Dominic Raab during his time as Brexit Secretary. 

Daisy Cooper MP said:

“The Prime Minister is clearly determined to sweep these allegations under the carpet. If the Cabinet Office knew about these allegations then they must make that public now. 


“Liberal Democrats are calling for the Government to publish a list of Ministers against whom there is credible evidence of bullying. The sleaze must end now."

ENDS

Notes to Editor:

Letter to Simon Case from Daisy Cooper MP 

Dear Simon Case 

In recent weeks we have seen a string of serious allegations about the behaviour of Cabinet Ministers.

These include distressing accounts of Gavin Williamson’s behaviour during his time as Chief Whip, and reports of Dominic Raab bullying civil servants during his time as both Brexit and Justice Secretary.

This alleged behaviour cannot and should not be tolerated in public life. The British public are fed up of reading disgraceful reports of Cabinet Ministers behaving inappropriately. Every day that reports like these surface, public trust in this Government is further eroded.

There is now a sense that a bullying culture exists within this Cabinet. And, more often than not, it appears that it is hardworking civil servants bearing the brunt. Staff are turning up each day to do their job, often working long hours, only to find Ministers failing to show basic respect. 

It is time to shine a light on the bullies in Cabinet. I am asking that the Cabinet Office to publish a list of all sitting Cabinet Ministers, about which there is credible evidence of bullying, including those instances that have prompted some form of intervention or action to mitigate the bullying behaviour. 

For example, in the Observer this weekend, it is stated that the Cabinet Office was made aware in 2018 of Dominic Raab’s alleged bullying of civil servants. It has also been reported that most recently, senior civil servants at the Ministry of Justice were offered “respite or a route out” of the department when Dominic Raab was reappointed last month, illustrating that senior bosses believed action was required to protect staff. 

I am asking for you to confirm publicly whether this report exists. It is important that his constituents and the public at large know how Ministers treat taxpayer-funded staff. 

In all these reports which you could make available, I am aware that the privacy of complainants must be protected. For their safety and wellbeing I would not want any specific allegations made public which may harm their cases or due process. 

In a Government widely discredited from endless sleaze and scandal, now is the time to be open and transparent. To coin a phrase from the current Prime Minister: Government must be about integrity, professionalism and accountability.

Publishing a list of Ministers against which there is credible evidence of bullying, would be an important first step to achieving those goals. 

Yours sincerely,

Daisy Cooper MP