Scottish ministers face more bullying complaints than every other UK department COMBINED

Scottish ministers have faced more bullying complaints from civil servants than every other UK department COMBINED, union chief reveals

  • In Scotland, there have been 30 complaints from civil servants in past 10 years 
  • There have only been a ‘handful’ of complaints in the other UK departments 
  • An inquiry will look into the way allegations against Alex Salmond were handled 

There have been more complaints of bullying against ministers in the Scottish government than in all other UK departments put together, Britain’s top trade union for senior civil servants has revealed. 

The findings come ahead of a Scottish parliament inquiry this week which will hear evidence on how complaints about former first minister Alex Salmond were handled before he was acquitted of sexual assault.

However, the hearings will also look at complaints against ministers since Nicola Sturgeon’s appointment in 2014.

There have been 30 complaints from senior civil servants at five ministerial departments in Scotland over ten years. 

In contrast, ‘only a handful’ of complaints have been made in the other UK departments, Dave Penman, leader of the FDA union, which represents senior and middle management civil servants, revealed.

A Scottish parliament inquiry this week which will hear evidence on how complaints about former first minister Alex Salmond were handled before he was acquitted of sexual assault

However, the hearings will also look at complaints against ministers since Nicola Sturgeon's appointment in 2014

However, the hearings will also look at complaints against ministers since Nicola Sturgeon’s appointment in 2014

He told the Times: ‘It is quite extraordinary that there are more complaints about the Scottish government than all other UK government departments put together.’

Discussing the nature of the complaints, Mr Penman said they included a ‘whole range of behaviour’, such as  ‘shouting and bawling, unreasonable demands, calls at 3am — and concerns these complaints would not be dealt with properly and, if raised, could damage future careers’.

Next week’s inquiry will look into the procedure used by Sturgeon to investigate complaints against Salmond, with Leslie Evans, the Scottish civil service head, Leslie Evans, appearing.

After Salmond was acquitted of sexual assault charges, he also won a judicial inquiry into the government’s handling of complaints against him.

Sturgeon’s administration admitted it had not followed proper procedures and was forced to pay her former boss £500,000 in legal costs.

The evidence will also reveal how senior civil servants raised concerns about ‘bullying behaviour’ in Salmond’s office while he was first minister, with some staff feeling unprotected.

Mr Penman added: ‘Although action was taken and short-term improvements or apologies were made, this did not bring about an overall change in culture.’ 

Dave Penman, leader of the FDA union, which represents senior and middle management civil servants, said: 'It is quite extraordinary that there are more complaints about the Scottish government than all other UK government departments put together'

Dave Penman, leader of the FDA union, which represents senior and middle management civil servants, said: ‘It is quite extraordinary that there are more complaints about the Scottish government than all other UK government departments put together’

The SNP has been inundated with bullying claims against ministers by civil servants. 

Last month, economy secretary Fiona Hyslop referred herself to an independent inquiry after she was blamed for triggering two suicide attempts by an employee. 

An aide alleged they had ‘put up with six months of intimidation, harassment, lies and gossiping’ while working for the MSP. 

The SNP is disputing claims about her.

More bullying claims were made about the rural economy and tourism secretary, Fergus Ewing.

Civil servants at the Marine Scotland agency accused him of acting in a ‘very un-ministerial’ manner by blaming officials for problems. 

Ewing rejects the latest claims, from June, but in 2018 did apologise for his ‘forthright’ attitude after an earlier bullying allegation. 

The Scottish government said it welcomed the chance to address the inquiry but would not pre-empt it by commenting.

Salmond did not comment.

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