Bullying Scandals Expose Civil War at Heart of UK Government
- Sunak expected to announce decision on ally’s behavior Friday
- Result will signal Sunak’s effort to ease rift with workforce
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UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has calmed the City of London’s market jitters and reset ties with Europe, but the government’s toxic relationship with the civil servants who keep ministries running may prove more difficult to repair.
Since vowing in October to restore professionalism after the tumultuous tenures of Boris Johnson and Liz Truss, Sunak has been buffeted by a series of allegations of bullying and abusive conduct by Conservative ministers toward their staff. Some predate Sunak, such as allegations of unprofessional conduct by former Business Secretary Alok Sharma, accounts that Bloomberg News first reported Sunday and that Sharma denies.