The Department for International Trade (DIT) was “politically biased” towards Brexit, rife with nepotism and had a tradition of bullying, stunning proof offered in a High Court case has claimed.
The Government is currently applying for the case, which centres on alleged leaks of high secrets and techniques by Britain's former ambassador to the US Lord Kim Darroch, to be held in secret behind closed doorways on "national security" grounds.
But Express.co.uk has seen a letter introduced as proof in a case by a former official who give up due to his issues over the “anti-Brexit” tradition in a division which was truly set as much as ship on Brexit alternatives.
It has emerged at a time when questions have been requested in regards to the political neutrality of the civil service and whether or not leaks about ministers together with Boris Johnson and Dominic Raab have been intentionally focused to deliver down Brexiteer ministers and the Tory Government.
A second letter introduced to the High Court is an apology to employees on the DIT for the extent of bullying and discrimination within the division.
The two items of proof have been introduced in assist of a case that has been introduced by one other ex-Whitehall official who's suing the Government for damages.
READ MORE: High Court case raises questions over civil service role in Partygate inquiry
Questions have been requested whether or not DIT below Romeo was making an attempt to undermine Boris Johnson's Brexit (Image: UK Government)
He has claimed he was framed for leaking details about former US Ambassador Lord Darroch as a result of perceived as “a rightwing Brexiteer.”
The complainant was dragged from his mattress whereas recovering from most cancers surgical procedure by 14 counter-terrorism police, subjected to months of investigation and consequently was made homeless and tried suicide.
The case has named greater than 20 senior officers together with the previous DIT Permanent Secretary Antonia Romeo, who's now the highest civil servant for the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and has been tipped as a future Cabinet Secretary in Downing Street.
The apology to DIT employees got here in an e-mail 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.
Tierney has been accused of being anti-Brexit but had a role in the Partygate investigations (Image: UK Government)
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 control of the division on the time and since transferring to the MoJ was herself concerned in supporting allegations of bullying towards former Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab who was controversially compelled to resign consequently.
But the witness assertion from a former official within the High Court case provides particulars to allegations of issues within the division below Ms Romeo’s management.
Describing particulars about hiring and promotions the previous official claimed it was based mostly on “nepotism” via particular person friendships and relationships.
As an instance, he highlighted how a senior official’s companion was made Chief Operating Officer for Africa, he stated: “The lack of respect for value to the taxpayer and nepotism was blatant, and everyone commented on it.”
The witness additionally claims that there was “political bias” and discrimination within the division claiming that the complainant within the court docket 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 additionally 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 within the Cabinet Office and performed a major position within the Partygate investigations towards 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.”
Antonia Romeo and Lord Darroch collectively within the US the place they wre each senior diplomats (Image: UK Government)
The case is because of have its subsequent listening to on May 31 subsequent week with the Government in search of for it to be held in secret behind closed doorways.
DIT has since been rolled into the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) who've declined to remark.
A Whitehall supply stated: “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 supply stated that the allegations ought to be taken within the context of a court docket case the place the complainant and witness "have grievances."
The supply 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 in regards to the case however declined to answer.
The subsequent listening to is due on June 22.
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