Health secretary Steve Barclay has had a busy day. He took NHS nurses to court and has been accused of bullying.
I didn’t believe in karma…until now.
Here is RCN General Secretary Pat Cullen speaking outside the High Court as ministers take the union to court to stop strike action this weekend Nurses are being “dragged by the courts by the least trusted group in England.”
After the historic judgement, she said the ‘absolutely shocking’ action was a demonstration of the ‘least trusted people’ taking the ‘most trusted profession through the courts’.
Strike action planned by nurses on May 2 has been called off after a High Court judge ruled it would be unlawful.
Royal College of Nursing (RCN) chiefs had scheduled a 48-hour strike in England from 8pm on April 30 to 8pm on May 2 in a massive escalation of its ongoing pay row with ministers.
Bullying
Now Barclay has been accused of bullying behaviour.
It comes just days after Dominic Raab resigned over intimidating and aggressive conduct towards officials.
Sources said informal complaints had been made to Chris Wormald, the department’s permanent secretary.
A separate source added: “Barclay’s style is very macho … He would say that he’s forensic. But in reality he’s a micro-manager. He hauls people over the coals and is generally a bit unpleasant,” reports The Guardian.
His supporters were quick to support him though.
James Cleverly told Sky News: “I’ve worked with him on a number of occasions. He has made a statement making it absolutely clear that there have been no reports.
“His statement is clear and completely unambiguous, and I am completely convinced that that is accurate.”
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