Union alleges ‘culture of fear’ during Alex Salmond’s era of office

No specific SNP ministers have been identified in the report.

Allegations of ‘bullying’ and a ‘culture of fear’ have been made against SNP ministers in Alex Salmond’s era in office.

The report, compiled by trade union FDA, alleges that civil servants who worked for ministers in the Scottish Government, and in particular the former first minister’s office, were afraid to speak out about inappropriate behaviour in the workplace.

Mr Salmond was First Minister of Scotland from 2007 to 2014.

The document does not name Mr Salmond, nor any other minister specifically as being responsible for the alleged behaviour.

The report states the environment within any minister’s office is “routinely high-pressured, and civil servants will know this before they consider a role working in the private office of, or closely with, ministers".

“There is never any excuse for bullying or inappropriate behaviour in the workplace, but those working at the heart of government will experience frequently the stresses and occasional lapses in behaviour that can arise in that environment.”

The latest claims have been made in a written submission to the Holyrood inquiry examining how the Scottish Government handled harassment complaints against Mr Salmond. The inquiry, which is being chaired by Linda Fabiani, starts its first hearings next week.

In 2010, the Fairness at Work policy was implemented, and the union have claimed that “around this time, the culture within the former first minister’s office and other ministerial offices in relation to bullying behaviour became a concern for us.

“Although action was taken and short-term improvements or apologies were made, this did not bring about an overall change in culture.

“Some civil servants expressed to us that they were operating in a culture of fear and were unable to speak truth unto power and discharge their duties effectively.”

“In particular, members in the former first minister’s office indicated that they felt isolated”

The report goes on to say that “despite Scottish Government remaining the only part of the UK civil service with a clear process for civil servants to raise complaints about ministers, rather than having to rely on the opaque Ministerial Code, this has not proved effective in eliminating

behaviour that raises concern".

“We can see no sign of any discernible reduction in the number of concerns raised by members,” the report said.

Mr Salmond was First Minister of Scotland from 2007 to 2014.

Earlier this year he was acquitted of 13 charges of sexual assault at the High Court in Edinburgh.

It emerged after the trial that Mr Salmond’s own lawyer, Gordon Jackson QC, had been filmed on a train calling the former first minister a “bully” and a “sex pest.”

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