Call for independent complaints process

The FDA senior civil service union has called for a fully independent process for civil servants to raise complaints against ministers as deputy prime minister Dominic Raab faced an investigation into numerous allegations of bullying.

FDA general secretary Dave Penman also wrote to prime minister Rishi Sunak urging him to consult his new ethics advisor, Sir Laurie Magnus, over the bullying claims. He pointed out that while an investigation by Adam Tolley KC is seeking to establish the facts, Sunak alone will determine the outcome of the investigation.

He said the prime minister had “deliberately chosen” not to answer a direct question on whether he was aware of concerns over Raab’s conduct when he appointed him, repeatedly relying on the lack of formal complaint.