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!

'Unintentional bullying' just shows a massive lack of self awareness.

It is preposterous to claim misogyny/racism in this case where, bullying by Priti Patel, has been investigated, proven and admitted, yet those who ended up resigning were white men.

Stop using the real scourges of sexism and racism to excuse a powerful bully who is being backed and protected by the Prime Minister of the country.Priti Patel is not the victim here.

Bullying does not exist in a vacuum. The whole culture of the organisation must be toxic. She has been exposed for who she is, regardless of the spin her employers try to put on it. Bullies are deplorable people.

@Ickle37- Trump is another one who likes to rip up rule books. Another classic bully.

You all know that Whitehall is one hot bed of unelected white men above the age of 40 who traditionally dictate our lives? You think its MP's, or Borris ( we dont live in a Presidency fyi) . I love the idea of Priti walking in there and causing hell. Ripping up rule books and making stuff happen. Pathetic they all cry bullying- to the press

Maybe think about how the bullied feel? they went through the process set down by Govt and though their complaints have been vindicated, the PM has dismissed the independent report.

As for ripping up the rule books and making things "happen" .... like what? what has she done? Sorted out an agreement with the French on boats crossing the channel, to replace the one she and other brexitiers have torn up... ? nope... more police... no... quicker (& fairer) asylum processes.. nope!
She has failed at the HO, she doesn't even front up any ministerial CV briefings, even the PM's advisors know she comes across as cold and uncaring.

I'm not sure whether she's a Bully or not but I think it's been proven beyond reasonable doubt that she's an utter cow!

Bullying has been going on for years and years in Westminster mostly by men against women and on the whole they have been getting away with it.

At the moment I can't see past the fact that now the shoe is on the other foot and it's the menfolk on the receiving end they are not happy and demand that something be done about it. Welcome to the world of career women during the 70s/80s and even the 90s.

Maybe think about how the bullied feel? maybe think of the many women who were on the receiving end of bullying that cost them their careers because it was brushed under the carpet.

Maybe just to get anywhere these days you have to be the one to shout the loudest and be a bitch and maybe that jars with the Westminster traditionalists where the motto for decades has been more 'women know your place'

I say the above as someone who is not a staunch feminist but as a career woman of a certain age .

I hope the former civil servant claiming constructive dismissal has his day in the tribunal and does not settle out of court. Perhaps then we will get to hear more of the story.

The person who we should now be blaming is the Prime Minister for not sacking her. Do not forget this if he is still PM by the time of the next election.

@StormzyinaTCup- you say that as an apologist for bullies.

No not really. You are focusing on one case without acknowledging that this has been a problem in (and not only) Westminster for many many years but for some reason this is the one that gets everyone talking, why is that? Why is this one any more important than any of the others?

She's so short I've always had an impression of her as a triple distilled bitch.

In terms of 'unintentional bullying' - I have a book on bullying where the definition (from the Director of the National Anti-Bullying Centre in Eire) is 'repeated, aggressive behaviour by somebody with more power'. So that's a big tick. It also mentions that it's 'often deliberate'.... so that means it not being deliberate means fuck all, right?

Boris is nuts not clamping down on this. It's going to set a terrible precedent and now that sensible and brilliant Keir is heading Labour I can't see them prevailing at the next election.

now that sensible and brilliant Keir is heading Labour

Sorry about my heightist (is that a word?!) comment.

She's so short I've always had an impression of her as a triple distilled bitch.

Is this the same for all short people?

I wonder what more is going to come out about Johnson trying to put pressure on to get the report changed. Democracy and the rule of law is coming to an end isn't it. How the third world dictators must be applauding Trump and Johnson.

@StormzyinaTCup - yes really. Have you not read my posts? I agree other people have done it and got away with it. Why the f* should that continue, especially after an independent review of it and an official finding of bullying?

Yes alright adawong 😂 I'm a very insincere believer of impressions and rarely like to dig deeper. I'm sure he's equally awful in many ways. But you have to admit he presents as a safer leader than Jeremy Corbyn.

Maybe think about how the bullied feel?

maybe think of the many women who were on the receiving end of bullying that cost them their careers because it was brushed under the carpet

Patel is guilty of shouting and swearing at junior staff, some may be female?

Because Bojo has excused her behavior, every man in the future can issue a weak apology, regardless of what they have done and carry on regardless.

He has set a very dangerous precedent.

The word bully is such an overly used phrase. Be more specific.Did she constantly undermine, manipulate and target someone with undue criticism and derogatory comments? Or did she justifiably criticise someone's substandard work and complain loudly in a less than polite way about being left out of the loop re key information.

I should Google but does anyone have examples of what she allegedly did? Specifically, not just she's a woman and she shouted at a man.

She's so short I've always had an impression of her as a triple distilled bitch

It's the 'Napolean Complex' seen by some to be an acceptable excuse for some short mens unacceptable behaviour. Does it work for Women?

laxxy no of course not. It pertained to the distilled bit... the personality is separate.

Think it's funny Labour are all handwringing about this when Jezza has been welcomed back and their own deputy called someone scum in the HOC leading to a barage of verbal abuse, targeting not just MPs but their families too.

@GetOffYourHighHorse - you’re being a bit lazy here telling others to be specific when an independent adviser has already been very specific.

The ministerial code of conduct has a definition for bullying, which does not include “robust criticism”, an indepdendent adviser on the ministerial code of conduct was asked to investigate the claims and he concluded bullying had taken place.

Boris Johnson, on the other hand, investigated nothing, has sat on the adviser’s report since July, and has now concluded that because Priti Patel hasn’t bullied him and he has a political use for her, she is not a bully.

'you’re being a bit lazy here telling others to be specific when an independent adviser has already been very specific.'

Well I genuinely haven't seen examples of what she did other then she shouted and imo context is needed before that is labeled bullying. As Johnson will have seen the context that is obviously why he is supporting her.

Now it's whatabohtery of course but what about Rayner's 'scum' comment leading to widespread targeted abuse, that ok? Or do you just pick and choose with your outrage?