Boris Johnson’s ex-chief of staff facing bullying claims
Former World Jewish Relief chair Dan Rosenfield is facing an attempt to block his peerage - but people close to him describe the claims made about his conduct while in Downing Street as 'laughable'
Boris Johnson’s former chief of staff Dan Rosenfield is facing claims he bullied junior female staff members in Downing Street.
The allegations, made by staffers who worked with the former World Jewish Relief chair in Number 10, have been described as “laughable” by the people close to Rosenfield.
But concerns have been registered with the Cabinet Office’s Propriety and Ethics unit, in an attempt to block Rosenfield’s peerage, after he was nominated by ex-PM Johnson.
Speaking to The Times newspaper, two sources claimed Rosenfield presided over an overbearing culture, which allegedly contributed to a number of young, female staff members leaving late last year.
One staff member alleged he had a “dismissive” attitude towards some female employees while another said he had a “David Brent-style” sense of humour, making “odd, sexist comments”.
A woman who reported feeling mistreated said: “There was a lot of screaming, particularly at women officials.
A number of times colleagues would say to me, ‘Are you OK?’ after he had left the room.
“The problem is, the worst-treated are those who are most reluctant to make the complaint, because they don’t want to damage their careers.”
Another person described “a well-known incident” during which a young woman didn’t get Rosenfield’s sandwich exactly when he wanted it.
They claimed he summoned her into the office and screamed “when I want my sandwich, I want my f***ing sandwich”.
But dismissing the claims against Rosenfield, another source said he was an exemplary Chief of Staff who used professionalism and respect to bring order to 10 Downing Street.
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