Reform defector 'bullied and harassed colleague'

A former Conservative aide who defected to Reform during Tory conference bullied and harassed a colleague, an official parliamentary investigation has revealed.

Robbie Lammas, who worked for then-party chairman Richard Holden MP, had an allegation of bullying upheld by Parliament’s Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS). According to The Express, Mr Lammas intimidated a junior staff member and inappropriately demanded a hug after a heated confrontation last year.

The investigator is said to have found his behaviour “abused his position of authority”, leaving the woman “vulnerable, upset, undermined, humiliated and threatened” and creating an “intimidating, hostile and humiliating environment”.

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According to a witness, Mr Lammas raised his voice, waved his arms, wrongly accused the staffer of complaining about office matters, and told her he had “sacked most of his former employees and would not be scared to sack another.”

Mr Lammas, who previously served as a special adviser in the Conservative Government and held a senior role at CCHQ, announced his defection to Reform UK on Tuesday, coinciding with the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester.

Since then, he’s been accused by several former colleagues of inappropriate behaviour.

One former staffer claimed “complaints were made about sexual harassment” and alleged he “found female staff members’ addresses on VoteSource [the party database] and sent cards to their homes”. Another described him as “a massive creep” and said he was “let go because he was s**t”.

Mr Lammas strongly denied any wrongdoing. He told The Mirror : “This complaint is a hit job from CCHQ and Richard Holden, ran by a journalist who is a former CCHQ press officer as they are furious about my defection.”

Reform UK has been approached for comment.

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