Fresh allegations that top UK trade officials were ‘anti-Brexit and bullying’

Labour MP defends Raab over being sacked by civil servants

The Department for International Trade (DIT) was “politically biased” against Brexit, rife with nepotism and had a culture of bullying, shocking evidence provided in a High Court case has claimed.

The Government is currently applying for the case, which centres on alleged leaks of top secrets by Britain’s former ambassador to the US Lord Kim Darroch, to be held in secret behind closed doors on “national security” grounds.

But Express.co.uk has seen a letter presented as evidence in a case by a former official who quit because of his concerns over the “anti-Brexit” culture in a department which was actually set up to deliver on Brexit opportunities.

It has emerged at a time when questions have been asked about the political neutrality of the civil service and whether leaks about ministers including Boris Johnson and Dominic Raab have been deliberately targeted to bring down Brexiteer ministers and the Tory Government.

A second letter presented to the High Court is an apology to staff at the DIT for the level of bullying and discrimination in the department.

The two pieces of evidence have been presented in support of a case that has been brought by another ex-Whitehall official who is suing the Government for damages.

He has claimed he was framed for leaking information about former US Ambassador Lord Darroch because perceived as “a rightwing Brexiteer.”

The complainant was dragged from his bed while recovering from cancer surgery by 14 counter-terrorism police, subjected to months of investigation and as a result was made homeless and attempted suicide.

The case has named more than 20 senior officials including the former DIT Permanent Secretary Antonia Romeo, who is now the top civil servant for the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and has been tipped as a future Cabinet Secretary in Downing Street.

The apology to DIT staff came in an email from senior official Rosalind Campion on November 16, 2018.

She wrote: “You’ll have seen a message from Antonia [Romeo] about DIT’s staff survey results – overall, there’s lots of good news within them, as she has set out. But I think it’s fair to say that our directorate’s staff survey results (attached) are somewhat different.

Don’t miss…
Sunak offered ‘rays of sunshine’ as poll shows Tory fightback is back on track[REVEAL]
Fears are growing on the Tory right that Rishi Sunak is trying to destroy them[INSIGHT]
Braverman case has fuelled suspicions of a Whitehall plot to take out Brexiteers[REACT]

Ms Campion added: “15 percent of you say you’ve been discriminated against in the past year; 12 percent of you have experienced bullying or harassment in the last year.

“Neither of these numbers is acceptable; no one should experience bullying, harassment or discrimination in the workplace. I’m truly sorry this has happened.”

Ms Romeo was in charge of the department at the time and since moving to the MoJ was herself involved in supporting allegations of bullying against former Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab who was controversially forced to resign as a result.

But the witness statement from a former official in the High Court case adds details to allegations of problems in the department under Ms Romeo’s leadership.

Describing details about hiring and promotions the former official claimed it was based on “nepotism” through individual friendships and relationships.

As an example, he highlighted how a senior official’s partner was made Chief Operating Officer for Africa, he said: “The lack of respect for value to the taxpayer and nepotism was blatant, and everyone commented on it.”

The witness also claims that there was “political bias” and discrimination in the department claiming that the complainant in the court case “was labelled an extremist, Trump supporter, and too old to work in the International Directorate.”

He added: “They defamed him and discriminated against him based on age and his country of national origin, and I am a witness to that. Unfortunately, this kind of behaviour in the Civil Service is not an isolated instance.”

He went on: “In my seven years in the service, I have witnessed countless cases of bullying, favouritism, political bias and intimidation against myself and others.

“This often goes unchallenged and is part of an underlining, toxic culture, as opposed to a series of individual incidents.”

On allegations of anti-Brexit sentiments, the witness also described how Darren Tierney, who was a senior official at DIT, “took a visceral reaction to [a Brexit opportunity] suggestion and I feel I was blackballed by him after that”.

Tierney is now Director General of Propriety and Ethics in the Cabinet Office and played a significant role in the Partygate investigations against Boris Johnson.

The claims have led to further questioning of the Partygate inquiry with others pointing out that Sue Gray who drew up the report now wants to become Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer’s chief of staff.

The letter concludes: “There is a lot of talk in the Civil Service about diversity and inclusion that many people pay lip service to.

“[The complainant] is a person who actually walked his talk. He should have been rewarded for his valuable contribution to DIT, and not ruined by people promoted above their ability through nepotism.”

The case is due to have its next hearing on May 31 next week with the Government seeking for it to be held in secret behind closed doors.

DIT has since been rolled into the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) who have declined to comment.

A Whitehall source said: “During Antonia [Romeo]’s tenure, there was a 25 percent fall in staff claiming to have been bullied or harassed at DIT.

“In terms of Dominic Raab, it would only be fair to point out that [Adam] Tolley’s [official] report concluded her handling of the bullying allegations was entirely appropriate, and that she raised Raab’s behaviour with him on multiple occasions.”

Regarding Mr Tierney, a Cabinet Office source said that the allegations should be taken in the context of a court case where the complainant and witness “have grievances.”

The source went on: “No such complaints have ever been raised regarding Mr Tierney’s conduct.

“As Director General for Global Trade and Investment, Mr Tierney worked to support the UK’s post-Brexit trade relations, including helping secure trade agreements with countries like Australia and progressing the UK’s entry into the Trans Pacific Partnership trade agreement.”

Lord Darroch has been approached about the case but declined to reply.

The next hearing is due on June 22.

Source: Read Full Article