Kemi Badenoch accused of ‘bullying and traumatising’ staff

Sources said the atmosphere in Kemi Badenoch’s private office was ‘often toxic and intimidating’. Photograph: Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

Kemi Badenoch, the frontrunner to be the next Conservative party leader, has been accused of creating an intimidating atmosphere in the government department she used to run, with some colleagues describing it as toxic, the Guardian can reveal.

At least three officials found her behaviour so traumatising that they felt they had no other choice but to leave, sources claimed.