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LONDON — Former aides of newly-elected Commons committee chair Liam Byrne have received thousands of pounds of compensation from the taxpayer following a bungled inquiry into allegations he bullied a member of staff.
At least four of Byrne’s former employees received payoffs this month after parliament’s independent complaints system — the ICGS — breached their anonymity while investigating bullying claims. A complaint against him was upheld.
Labour MP Byrne narrowly won a contest to chair the business and trade committee this week. Five people who previously worked for him, including three who received compensation, told POLITICO they are dismayed by the development.
The ICGS revealed witnesses’ identities to Byrne during its probe into claims he bullied a member of staff, despite assurances they would remain anonymous. Subsequently, he messaged and called a number of them.
In response, the former aides took legal action against the ICGS and each received four figure payoffs for from the Commons this month. The total amount paid out is thought to be five figures.
The ICGS concluded last year that Byrne had ostracized a former assistant following a minor office dispute. Parliamentary Standards Commissioner Kathryn Stone said it “was malicious behavior that involved a significant misuse of power.” At the time Byrne said he was “profoundly sorry.” He was handed a two-day suspension from parliament.
David Barker, the former aide whom Byrne was found to have bullied and one of those who received compensation from the Commons, said: “I was devastated to see that parliament’s ICGS disclosed statements and private messages they swore would remain anonymous. I spent a long time worrying about any fallout for the witnesses who came forward to give evidence, and for their mental health.”
“I’m glad they have agreed to settle,” he added. “Sadly, many other victims have said to me that they wouldn’t make an ICGS complaint after seeing what they did to witnesses in my case.”
‘Kick in the teeth’
Five people who worked for Byrne hit back at his election by MPs to the influential and sought-after committee chairmanship. They were granted anonymity to speak freely.
“It’s a kick in the teeth to see a workplace bully being rewarded with a promotion and a 17k salary bump,” one person who worked for him said. “What makes it worse is that it’s his colleagues — our elected members of parliament — who chose him.”
Another former Byrne aide said that to see him “getting an influential role really sends out the wrong message about politics and politicians.”
A third person who worked for Byrne said that for MPs “to nominate and elect him while preaching about the toxic workplace culture in Westminster is so hideously predictable.”
Jenny Symons, chair of the GMB union branch for MPs’ staff, said: “It’s very disappointing that his colleagues, his fellow MPs, have decided him worthy of having a select committee chairmanship.”
Separately, in May a parliamentary investigation upheld a complaint against Byrne for enlisting a taxpayer-funded aide to work on his unsuccessful bid to become West Midlands mayor.
Closely-fought contest
A total of 191 MPs cast their first preference votes for Byrne in the vote Wednesday, giving him a narrow victory over second-placed candidate Angela Eagle.
The Birmingham Hodge Hill MP was nominated for the role by several high-profile Labour figures including Shadow Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips, who has been vocal in defending misconduct victims. Phillips did not respond to a request for comment.
He also had support from Labour’s Stephen Timms and Stella Creasy and several Tory grandees including Iain Duncan Smith, David Davis and Damian Green.
During his time as a minister in the last Labour government, an 11-page document was leaked showing the exacting demands Byrne made of civil servants, including detailed instructions on when to serve his coffee and soup and how to format briefing notes.
In a statement to POLITICO, Byrne said: “I am genuinely remorseful for the impact of my behavior on the individual involved. This was recognized by the IEP [Independent Expert Panel] and I have apologized to the complainant for the distress caused.
“I fully agree that stronger safeguards are needed for MPs and staff, such as volunteer agreements, to give team members confidence in their position. I have followed the prescribed training and taken steps to ensure that this never happens again under my watch.
“The ICGS profoundly failed in its duty of care to protect the anonymity of those involved with their investigation and I am very glad they have been compensated for their distress.”
A spokesperson for the Commons said: “Parliament’s Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS) operates on the basis of confidentiality for the benefit of all parties, and we are therefore unable to provide information or commentary on individual cases.”
