Staff working for the People’s Vote campaign told their chairman his behaviour had been “utterly absurd” today after attempts to “sack” two leading figures.
Forty members of staff have written to Roland Rudd, telling him they were worried about their jobs and the future of the campaign after a public row engulfed the group.
It comes after Mr Rudd, who is the chairman of Open Britain — one of the organisations that makes up the campaign — attempted to fire the head of communications Tom Baldwin and director James McGrory on Sunday.
The letter, seen by the Standard, said: “The manner in which you have acted over recent weeks, without respect for the views of employees who know this campaign inside out, or the volunteers who are its lifeblood, has been extremely disappointing and deeply counter-productive. It is utterly absurd that at this critical time for our country, you have started an argument about how our campaign is run.
“We do not want a public argument, we simply want to get back to work, delivering the People’s Vote that our country so desperately needs.”
Staff, who walked out yesterday in protest, demand that Mr Rudd allows them to continue with their work under Mr Baldwin and Mr McGrory.
The organisation, which set up the huge march through London 10 days ago, has been in meltdown after Mr Rudd asked the two leaders to leave.
Mr Baldwin and Mr McGrory went in to work yesterday but accused Mr Rudd of “putting a wrecking ball” through the group. Mr Rudd has denied firing Mr Baldwin, saying: “He has an opportunity for a different type of role”.
It comes after months of internal strife over whether the campaign should to push simply for a referendum on Brexit or support Remain.
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