The Home Office job ad pointed out its legal duty to eliminate victimisation.
“We encourage a diverse workforce and aim to provide a working environment where all staff at all levels are valued and respected, and where discrimination, bullying, promotion of negative stereotyping and harassment are not tolerated.“
These are the words of the Home Office in an advert for a £60k job as a speechwriter for Priti Patel, the Home Secretary who was found to have bullied staff but kept her job anyway.
The Home Office goes on to point out its statutory duties under the Equality Act 2010 that state that it must have due regard of the need to eliminate discrimination, harassment, and victimisation and advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations. “We expect all staff to assist the department in meeting these obligations,” it says.
In November, a report by civil servant Sir Alex Allan found that Patel had builled staff by shouting and swearing at them and had breached the ministerial code.
Despite this finding, Boris Johnson refused to sack Patel and ordered his MPs to “form a square around the Prittster” – which many of them dutifully did. Sir Alex Allan ended up resigning over the issue while Patel stayed in her job.
Joe Lo is a co-editor of Left Foot Forward
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