Boris Johnson’s ‘no apology’ for abuse of support staff

Support staff at No 10 and the Cabinet Office have been subject to bullying and harassment for years, according to a union member in Whitehall.

Sue Gray's report into the Partygate scandal revealed that cleaners and security guards have been subject to a lack of respect and poor treatment and yet felt unable to raise this properly with the authorities.

A member of the Public and Commercial Service PCS union in the Cabinet Office said: "The prime minister's apology is too little, too late." There has been a culture of bullying, harassment and sexism in No 10 for many years. Several incidents recalled to the Guardian by staff include sexually derogatory comments made by senior civil servants about female staff in front of union members, and swearing and drinking alcohol in front of cleaning staff.

In the conclusion of her report, Gray says that some staff had witnessed or been subjected to behaviours at work that they had felt concerned about but were unable to raise properly.

I was aware of several examples of a lack of respect and poor treatment of security and cleaning staff.

This was unacceptable. I am reassured by the fact that steps have been taken to introduce more easily accessible means by which one can raise concerns electronically, in person or online, including directly with the permanent secretary in No 10.

I hope that this will embed a culture that welcomes and creates opportunities for challenge and speaks up at all levels. Boris Johnson apologized to security and cleaning staff for their appalling treatment, speaking to MPs in the Commons.

He said he had no knowledge of such treatment, but he was surprised and disappointed to hear about them.

Under his predecessor s premiership, poor treatment of staff was apparent, and has continued under Johnson, according to the union member.

It was going on behind Theresa May s back before he took office, but he did nothing to address it. They said that his empty words will be no consolation for the hard-working cleaners and security guards who have suffered under his leadership.

A union representing cleaners in other government departments said it was not surprised by the revelations in the Gray report.

Petros Elia, general secretary for the United Voices of World UVW union, said they have many members who work as cleaners and security guards, and these workers face daily disrespect in offices across London, not just in Downing Street. Most of the cleaners and security guards in the area are ethnic minority workers, Black, brown and migrant people who are disproportionately impacted by poor working conditions and racialized inequalities. The UVW s members included cleaners at the Ministry of Justice who held a walkout during the epidemic after the union repeatedly raised concerns over workers safety, a lack of PPE and failure to promise full sick pay for those who might need to self-isolate.

A Cabinet Office spokesman said that they do not tolerate bullying, harassment or discrimination in our workplaces, whether staff or contractors.

Our latest data shows that the civil service incidents have fallen to their lowest recorded level, with a large increase in the number of people who believe appropriate action has been taken, but we know there is more work to be done.

The Diversity and Inclusion Strategy builds on the progress made in recent years by setting out clear and specific actions for departments, including regular reviews of progress and running campaigns across government that support staff in raising concerns.