A Tory minister accused of driving civil servants to having breakdowns has insisted there should be “zero bullying” in Whitehall.
Dominic Raab faces a bullying probe into allegations made by dozens of officials about his behaviour.
The Mirror revealed last week that staff involved in the complaints have said they lost weight, suffered breakdowns or even felt suicidal as they thought there was no escape.
But Mr Raab today has said he is “confident” he has “behaved professionally at all times”.
Asked if he was any more robust than former prime minister Margaret Thatcher, he told the Telegraph: "I think it's difficult to compare different eras.
“But I think standards of professionalism, whether they're in the business sector, the voluntary sector or the public sector, should involve setting high standards and zero bullying, and those two things are perfectly reconcilable."
Dave Penman, the leader of the FDA union, which represents senior civil servants, said Mr Raab should stop giving public statements about the inquiry into bullying allegations against him.
"What we need is for this inquiry to conclude as quickly as possible and for the protagonist in it, who has been reminded about confidentiality, to stop giving comments to the public,” he told BBC Radio 4.
"This demonstrates ably the issue of why the Prime Minister should have suspended Dominic Raab because, while these allegations are hanging over him, he is still serving as a minister, there are still concerns about someone who conducts themselves potentially in that way still being in charge of civil servants."
Asked whether being "difficult" to work with should bar a politician from ministerial office, Mr Penman replied: "What you have to remember here is bullies are not good managers. Bullies are ineffective. What you end up with is good people leaving - it is not actually a way to get people to work."
The three permanent secretaries who led officials working under Mr Raab are thought to have given evidence to the inquiry into Mr Raab being led by senior lawyer Adam Tolley KC.
The investigation centres on when he was foreign secretary, Brexit secretary and during his first stint as justice secretary.
There are eight formal complaints involving at least 24 civil servants.
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