Priti Patel

[Walkaround]

Is it actually possible to unintentionally bully someone? I always thought there had to be some knowledge of abuse of power - it’s supremely difficult to intimidate or coerce someone accidentally. The fact that the people Priti Patel works with as equals- other ministers - are falling over themselves to say how delightful she is to work with, whereas those who work for her accuse her of bullying surely makes it more likely her behaviour is deliberate bullying? Otherwise, her equals would find her to have an frightening, tyrannical demeanour, too!

She sounds like an absolute horror. Of course she can control herself whilst dealing with other senior ministers then treats underlings like crap. Anyone who can't work that out must be just stupid or covering up for her.

She looks down her nose at people. That comedy show when she did one of the Coronavirus briefings She couldn't even read out a number properly. Boris will keep her on though.

YANBU!

Heard Matt Hancock on R4 this morning. Shouted at the radio - Of course she's always courteous to you Matt!

Let's hope Boris gets rid of her but who knows what the real people in power think.

Possible for someone to unintentionally bully someone, or consider their 'robust' behaviour to be normal and not bullying.

The evidence revealed so far if accurate suggests Priti Patel has bullied some people, even if not her intention. As for her future, Boris Johnson is unlikely to sack her. Though if she were an able woman in the Conservative Party, would have done so ages ago.

Those findings did tickle me - if you're 'unintentionally bullying' someone then you're just being a bitch, right?!

What a defence...(!)

She looks smug and superior and hard work and I bet the bullying claims are all true. I think that Gordon Brown had the same accusations as well though? It could just be a power thing? I guess people manage people differently? I'm Not condoning bullying them though just trying to understand how it could happen.
I've been in the receiving end of low level work place bullies and it's not nice at all.
Nothing will get done about it though.

In anti-bullying week, it's unbelievable that she won't be -sacked- asked to resign. Bullying is a major problem in the workplace and surely we want some leadership?

I can’t imagine many people getting high up in any organisation not to be quite ‘robust’ in personality - people need to walk a fine line between capable and bully though (and I think you can rise through the ranks without standing on others). Is she being judged through different eyes because she is a woman though?

@Jolonglegs - Boris Johnson kept Cummings on despite his reputation as a bully. He even kept him on for months despite his reputation as a liar and a hypocrite. And, of course, Priti Patel has already been caught out before as someone willing to behave badly, having secret meetings in Israel as International Development Secretary. I get the impression Boris Johnson quite likes to have rule-breaking thugs around him.

Johnson's a bully himself, so nothing just will be done. It's a conspiracy of complicity that not only undermines national anti-bullying strategies but further condones workplace bullying and harassment. People like Patel are a root cause of mental health disorders incubated in the workplace, and it's despicable that she'll be defended by the Prime Minister. But not at all surprising, sadly. Another tragic failing of this Wild West "government" 😡

@Jolonglegs

In anti-bullying week, it's unbelievable that she won't be -sacked- asked to resign. Bullying is a major problem in the workplace and surely we want some leadership?

Of course she won’t resign. After Cummings, after all the procurement scandals it’s clear that no ministerial resignations happen in this government unless Boris wants them out for other reasons. They’ve got their Parliamentary majority and they can do what the fuck they like.

Charm personified to her peers and the PM no doubt. That's how bullies work, isn't it?

The full details of the report need to be released.

She comes across as someone who will do whatever to achieve her agenda ... so very similar to Johnston, Cummings etc.

Among other things, she suggested the UK should threaten Ireland with the prospect of food shortages if leaders agree to scrapthe Brexit backstop.
www.google.co.uk/amp/s/inews.co.uk/news/politics/priti-patel-ireland-food-shortage-no-deal-brexit-leo-varadkar-home-secretary-warning-318794/amp

She exudes nastiness. Reminds me of my old boss who would be absolutely charming to those on her level or more senior, but was a horror to those who worked beneath her. Unfortunately people like her tend to get away with it.

Am I the only one that sees a woman of colour in power accused of bullying and my first reaction is scepticism?

The amount of vitriol Patel gets is completely disproportional and, imo, fueled by sexism and racism.

Oh please @SebastianTheCrab - is that the best you can do? Have you followed her rise to the dizzy heights of Johnson's decidedly wonky cabinet? Is there a minority she hasn't othered and trampled on to get there?!

Get real. And don't pretend she isn't currently the "power" behind a deadly hostile environment policy towards refugees and immigrants

@SebastianTheCrab

Yes I get that feeling too. Also bullies love to jump on the bandwagon and strike the underdog. Ironic.

@SebastianTheCrab

Am I the only one that sees a woman of colour in power accused of bullying and my first reaction is scepticism?

The amount of vitriol Patel gets is completely disproportional and, imo, fueled by sexism and racism.

Women of colour can also be horrible people too, you know. Bitchiness is one of life's great equalisers.

I've been bitched at by co-workers, strangers, friends and family (yes, MIL, I'm looking at you) - they're a mixture of colours, genders and sexuality.

IMO to NOT call out bad behaviour due to a sensitivity about skin tone, would be far worse.

Years ago I had a South African boss who was a bully. She started on a West Indian member of staff, who told her she wasn’t back home and that he wasn’t one of her “black slaves.” Other staff copied him, and found it was a great way to shut the bitch down.

I suspect she is a bully while being completely sycophantic to her MP colleagues.

I think govt is being really cliquey at the moment and she is part of it.

It looks as though she does what it takes to deliver results but lacks the leadership skills to do it nicely. I come from a parallel background and upbringing to her and she's had to prove herself by what she achieves, but has come down on the wrong side of ruthless. I also think her personal values are off too.

There's no doubt that male colleagues have likely gotten away with worse though. While I do believe she should go if she was bullying, I hope if she has experienced or witnesses similar by others, including men, she calls them out - but not as a defence for her behaviour.

She's a bully. She bullies anyone vulnerable.

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/nov/13/priti-patel-departing-from-her-own-anti-trafficking-policy

The deportation of hundreds of asylum seekers who arrived in the UK on small boats could be halted after a judge ruled that the home secretary was departing from her own policy on identifying victims of trafficking.

The high court case was brought by three potential victims of trafficking – one from Eritrea and two from Sudan – who recently arrived in the UK on small boats. Trafficking in Libya is well-documented, and there is a particular risk that asylum seekers who have passed through the country have been trafficked.

Since the start of the pandemic, Priti Patel has departed from her own published policy to ask asylum seekers questions about their journeys to the UK.

(contd).

Yes, of course it's possible to unintentionally bully, just as it's possible to unintentionally sexually harass. The critical test is when the person is told of the reaction of their victims - a decent person learns, and changes their behaviour. They don't say "I have a robust management style. They just can't take criticism" or "I was just showing appreciation. PC gone mad".

Just heard the statement about this on lbc. Another whitewash.

Of course she won’t resign. After Cummings, after all the procurement scandals it’s clear that no ministerial resignations happen in this government unless Boris wants them out for other reasons. They’ve got their Parliamentary majority and they can do what the fuck they like

Totally this. They have worked out that there's nothing we can do if they refuse to resign. The press, while reporting this, will not hound and ridicule them in the same way they would if they were not the government they want in power. I hope people's memories are not short in the next general election.

I genuinely think this is an government which has complete contempt for any person or stakeholder who tries to hold them to account; which has total disrespect for the rules that have controlled previous governments. Every other minister who has been found to have broken this code has resigned. It is clear that she tried to run roughshod over the independence of the civil service by bullying this civil servant. Not surprising given the background of our PM.

I don't believe people accidentally bully others. If that were the case she'd have treated everyone in the same way. She clearly only treats those she considers beneath her in a bullying way. It is not just one man, it is a pattern of behaviour.

There was screaming and shouting involved. The poor woman must have no control of her voice if it was unintentional.