Preeti's sitting pretty

suziewoozie

Gill you still listen to Any Questions? I didn’t have you down as a masochist ?

I had stopped listening to it, for the sake of my blood pressure, but I put Radio 4 on today while pottering in the kitchen putting the fruit and veg delivery away. I only heard a few minutes of Any Questions and agreed with most of what Jess Phillips said about the Ms Patel bullying episode. Regrettably, I came back after sorting out laundry, just in time for any answers......with few exceptions, it was depressing listening.

Perfect definition of gammons!

GillT57

Oh good grief! Just listening to Any Questions on Radio 4, just where do they get these people from? Accusing anyone who doesn't like being shouted and screamed at as being a bit soft, harping on about the good old days of foremen in factories screaming at workers to increase productivity.

How about whipping people on slave plantations? That'll teach them! None of these "woke" snowflakes! No wonder the country's going down the pan and we don't have an Empire!

Gill you still listen to Any Questions? I didn’t have you down as a masochist ?

Oh good grief! Just listening to Any Questions on Radio 4, just where do they get these people from? Accusing anyone who doesn't like being shouted and screamed at as being a bit soft, harping on about the good old days of foremen in factories screaming at workers to increase productivity.

because an aggressive male politician is forceful and ‘gets the job done’ - admired even.

I doubt if people enjoy working for him or particularly admire his management style. Or that 'the job' is done in the best way...

I think there's something rather sad about people who admire bullies...

Kandinsky Malcolm Tucker was modelled on Alistair Campbell (who has since revamped himself) but he was a SPAD not a politician or a minister. He was undoubtedly a bully and he wielded huge power and influence partly through his media connections but he hadn't signed any ministerial code of conduct, nobody complained or took legal action against him and there was no investigation.
I really object to using the woman excuse, women are quite as capable as men of bullying. And the one thing they should have the honour to do is to resign when they are in the wrong. The way men used to when there were real standards of behaviour.

I once felt myself bullied at work by a very senior person in our hierarchy. I told my immediate boss and, by golly, she supported me very well and went into action on my behalf. I actually felt better about myself and my work due to my boss's support and action.
It doesn't sound as though civil servants were as lucky.
I wonder what would have happened if they had shouted right back at her. Again, just wondering, if their inbuilt politeness held them back. Basically, she got away with it time and again.

Is this decision an echo of Cumming's thoughts on the civil service ie they need a dose of salts through them to shake them out of old habits and ways of doing things?
Just a thought

I don't think Malcolm Tucker was meant to be a role model Kandinsky.

He's not a politician either, and in the end loses his job and gets arrested for perjury. So not a great career arc.

Well, from my own experience I'm not surprised she kept her job - bullies always win (unfortunately, bullies are also usually good at their jobs).

I'm also not surprised that she behaved this way - anyone who advocates snitching on other people shows how nasty they are underneath their veneer of 'doing right'.

Nor am I surprised that Johnson tried to cover up or smooth over aspects of the report - we all know what kind of person he is, too.

Did anyone watch ‘The thick of it?’ With the aggressive swearing Malcolm Tucker?
Oh how we laughed.
If PP was a man we wouldn’t be having this conversation - because an aggressive male politician is forceful and ‘gets the job done’ - admired even.

varian

Sir Phillip Ruttman who had warned PP about her bullying behaviour, was never asked to give evidence.Why?

The answer lies in your question

Sir Phillip Ruttman who had warned PP about her bullying behaviour, was never asked to give evidence.Why?

How many errors of judgment can he make?

He's a narcissist, who wants people to like him. He's not strong enough to be a good manager and say "no". He's scared of Patel's Ukip-lite supporters on the back benches.

That's the trouble with being a populist.

What a mealy mouthed apology was offered by PP who said she was sorry if people had got upset.

Johnson is doing himself no favours is he

Certainly he is not.
Yet another error of judgement.

Curlywhirly

The trouble with being bullied by your manager is that they have all the power. You don't want to report it as you don't want to incur their wrath even more; you know that if you do, your manager will most certainly make your working life even more hell than it already is.

Management very often close ranks and quite often back the manager, as Johnson has just demonstrated! Nothing changes eh?

One effect of bullying is that the victim often feels worthless and undermined. The victim feels ashamed because they're made to feel to blame. Bullies usually put on a completely different "face" to equals and superiors.

Everybody can lose their rag at times and speak harshly, but bullying is something else. There's a pattern and it's relentless. It's not plausible that it's unintentional, especially if a warning has already been issued.

It's exactly what I'd expect of our government and PM. Nobody should be surprised.

This is nothing to do with bullying and everything to do with Johnson’s best interests.

However, I expect Johnson to tough it out - it’s in his own best interests. Atm BJ has problems with many backbenchers -PP is popular with them - her stance on immigration, her disgraceful comments about lawyers, her complete disregard for the rule of law, her complete disregard for the travesty that is the Windrush Compensation schene. What’s not to like and for a beleagued PM what’s not to suppor?

Thank you for that MaizieD. Puts an entirely different light on it.

Thanks MaizieD - that is chilling
Johnson is doing himself no favours is he.

How on earth can definitions of bullying vary? That's like saying definitions of racism or anti semitism can vary.

There was an independent inquiry. It concluded Patel bullied, shouted and swore at staff. She should have resigned. Instead, Johnson supported her and the independent chair resigned.

Also, exactly what vegansrock said, unintentional bullying doesn't exist. Apologising for "making people feel bullied" is victim blaming.
We are living in very peculiar and dangerous times.

Statement issued today by Sir Philip Rutman (former head of Home Office civil servants)

(hope it's readable)