Civil servants complain of bullying by Byers aide

The leader of Britain's most senior civil servants yesterday launched his strongest attack yet on the alleged "bullying" tactics used by the "spin doctor" Jo Moore against officials.

The special adviser to Stephen Byers, Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, became notorious after sending an e-mail urging colleagues to "bury" bad news under cover of the 11 September attacks.

Jonathan Beaume, general secretary of the First Division Association, said his members complained of routine intimidation by Ms Moore during her time at both the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department for Transport.

"People have told of a persistent pattern of bullying behaviour over several years and they are asking why ministers have turned a blind eye," Mr Beaume said.

On Thursday the Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott said that a full Whitehall investigation could only be launched if a civil servant made a complaint. But Mr Beaume said: "The system should not rely on one brave individual being prepared to make a formal complaint and possibly jeopardise their career." He added that codes of conduct for ministers, civil servants and special advisers should have the backing of the law. "In the meantime we need to consider why the codes are not working properly," he said.

Sources at the DTI and the Department for Transport have alleged that Ms Moore tried to "politicise" them. It is understood that Alun Evans, former director of communications in the department, left after attempts by Ms Moore to persuade him and his colleagues to publicise material aimed at undermining Bob Kiley, London's transport commissioner appointed by the mayor Ken Livingstone.

The First Division Association attempted to lodge a formal complaint on the subject of ministers bullying civil servants during the last Conservative administration, but the allegation was considered inadmissible because it did not come from an individual.

A spokesman for the Department for Transport said disciplinary action had been taken against Ms Moore "in accordance with established procedure".

She was reprimanded by the Permanent Secretary at the department and the Secretary of State for sending the e-mail. But Mr Byers has refused to dismiss her.

Civil servants will be reluctant to work with Ms Moore when she resumes her job, Whitehall sources say. At least one official is understood to have registered his refusal to work with her. "Before 11 September civil servants were fed up with the way she was working. But now the problem will be a lot worse. She has lost all credibility," the source said.

* Angry Railtrack shareholders have renewed their threat to take legal action against the Government. The shareholders – many of whom first invested when the network was privatised in 1996 – met their lawyers in London yesterday. They are being represented as two groups by the law firms Edwin Coe Solicitors and Class Law. David Greene, speaking for the first group of shareholders, said: "If it comes to it, there will be legal action."