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Michael Gove insists he was unaware of any bullying claims made against staff Michael Gove insists he was unaware of any bullying claims made against staff
(7 months later)
Michael Gove has been drawn directly into the row over the alleged bullying of a member of staff in his department after MPs raised concerns on Wednesday that the education secretary could have misled parliament over the issue.Michael Gove has been drawn directly into the row over the alleged bullying of a member of staff in his department after MPs raised concerns on Wednesday that the education secretary could have misled parliament over the issue.
The concern, voiced at the cross-party education select committee, prompted Gove to write a letter to the committee insisting he had been correct in evidence at an earlier hearing when he denied being aware of allegations that special advisers had been "acting inappropriately" towards civil servants.The concern, voiced at the cross-party education select committee, prompted Gove to write a letter to the committee insisting he had been correct in evidence at an earlier hearing when he denied being aware of allegations that special advisers had been "acting inappropriately" towards civil servants.
The incident has now prompted the shadow education secretary Stephen Twigg to call for an independent investigation by the head of the home civil service, Sir Bob Kerslake, something that would be a serious embarrassment to Gove, a close ally of the prime minister.The incident has now prompted the shadow education secretary Stephen Twigg to call for an independent investigation by the head of the home civil service, Sir Bob Kerslake, something that would be a serious embarrassment to Gove, a close ally of the prime minister.
"These are incredibly serious allegations," said Twigg. "It appears that Michael Gove has either misled parliament or appears to have no control or knowledge of what his advisers do on his behalf. Misleading parliament would be a breach of the ministerial code.""These are incredibly serious allegations," said Twigg. "It appears that Michael Gove has either misled parliament or appears to have no control or knowledge of what his advisers do on his behalf. Misleading parliament would be a breach of the ministerial code."
The ministerial code of conduct takes a tough line on ministers found guilty of misleading parliament, which is taken to include select committees. It states: "Ministers who knowingly mislead parliament will be expected to offer their resignation to the prime minister."The ministerial code of conduct takes a tough line on ministers found guilty of misleading parliament, which is taken to include select committees. It states: "Ministers who knowingly mislead parliament will be expected to offer their resignation to the prime minister."
The issue arose when Gove gave evidence to the education select committee last month and was asked by Labour MP Ian Mearns: "Are you aware of allegations of [special advisers] acting inappropriately to civil servants within the department?" Gove answered: "No."The issue arose when Gove gave evidence to the education select committee last month and was asked by Labour MP Ian Mearns: "Are you aware of allegations of [special advisers] acting inappropriately to civil servants within the department?" Gove answered: "No."
Under the code of conduct for special advisers, ministers have responsibility for the "management and conduct" of their special advisers, including matters relating to discipline.Under the code of conduct for special advisers, ministers have responsibility for the "management and conduct" of their special advisers, including matters relating to discipline.
On Sunday the Observer revealed that a senior civil servant was awarded an out-of-court settlement of £25,000 after a lengthy grievance procedure involving members of Gove's team, including the department's former head of communications, James Frayne, and the education secretary's special adviser Dominic Cummings. Although the department said the advisers were cleared of wrongdoing, it accepted there was "no reason at all to doubt the genuine distress, unhappiness and sense of injury" the woman described.On Sunday the Observer revealed that a senior civil servant was awarded an out-of-court settlement of £25,000 after a lengthy grievance procedure involving members of Gove's team, including the department's former head of communications, James Frayne, and the education secretary's special adviser Dominic Cummings. Although the department said the advisers were cleared of wrongdoing, it accepted there was "no reason at all to doubt the genuine distress, unhappiness and sense of injury" the woman described.
The story prompted a chain of events bordering on farcical, starting on Wednesday morning with a closed meeting of the education select committee, where members agreed that the Conservative chairman, Graham Stuart, should write to Gove asking him to explain his comments. Labour, which has five MPs on the committee, said he had been given about 10 days to reply or face being recalled to give evidence.The story prompted a chain of events bordering on farcical, starting on Wednesday morning with a closed meeting of the education select committee, where members agreed that the Conservative chairman, Graham Stuart, should write to Gove asking him to explain his comments. Labour, which has five MPs on the committee, said he had been given about 10 days to reply or face being recalled to give evidence.
Before the letter could be written, the education department published a pre-emptive letter from Gove, prompted, he said, by BBC reports of the committee's concerns. "While I cannot comment on individual employment matters, I can confirm that I have never been made aware of allegations by civil servants of inappropriate actions by special advisers," he wrote. "It is not usual practice for ministers to be informed of individual grievances by members of staff, particularly if those grievances are not upheld.Before the letter could be written, the education department published a pre-emptive letter from Gove, prompted, he said, by BBC reports of the committee's concerns. "While I cannot comment on individual employment matters, I can confirm that I have never been made aware of allegations by civil servants of inappropriate actions by special advisers," he wrote. "It is not usual practice for ministers to be informed of individual grievances by members of staff, particularly if those grievances are not upheld.
"As such I remain confident that my evidence to the committee was correct.""As such I remain confident that my evidence to the committee was correct."
Following that letter, a committee spokeswoman confirmed that the MPs would reconsider whether they needed to send their intended letter.Following that letter, a committee spokeswoman confirmed that the MPs would reconsider whether they needed to send their intended letter.
Two days after Gove's last appearance in January, the select committee, with five Tories, five Labour MPs and one Liberal Democrat, criticised the department's permanent secretary for saying that, despite surveys showing poor morale, he was "not dealing with a disaster situation".Two days after Gove's last appearance in January, the select committee, with five Tories, five Labour MPs and one Liberal Democrat, criticised the department's permanent secretary for saying that, despite surveys showing poor morale, he was "not dealing with a disaster situation".
"With four in five staff believing change to be managed poorly, and only half believing the department itself to be well run, this looks complacent," they wrote. "We recommend that the department adopt a little more urgency in dealing with staff morale.""With four in five staff believing change to be managed poorly, and only half believing the department itself to be well run, this looks complacent," they wrote. "We recommend that the department adopt a little more urgency in dealing with staff morale."
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