Chloe Moffat: UK Treasury failed duty of care, says dad
David Moffat criticizes the UK Treasury's lack of support after his 26-year-old daughter took her own life following a tense meeting.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- 26-year-old Chloe Moffat died on 20 May last year.
- Her father criticized the Treasury for lacking support and protocol.
- Coroner found the meeting materially contributed to her death.
The tragic death of 26-year-old Chloe Moffat, a personal assistant to a Treasury director in the UK, has sparked intense scrutiny after her father stated that the Treasury's lack of support "beggars belief." Chloe took her own life on 20 May last year, just one day after attending a distressing meeting with her managers regarding unproven allegations.
On 19 May 2025, Chloe attended what she believed was a routine one-to-one meeting with her line manager. However, a more senior manager was unexpectedly present. During the discussion, she was confronted with allegations that she had shared sensitive confidential information about colleagues, an accusation she firmly denied.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, her father David Moffat shared that Chloe repeatedly asked during the meeting if she would lose her job and whether she could have a friend present—both requests were refused. Immediately after the meeting, her work email account was locked, which David described as part of the overwhelming shock inflicted upon her.
This heartbreaking case highlights critical failures in corporate governance and internal disciplinary procedures within public institutions. The coroner's findings emphasized that standard written protocols—which would have clarified that the alleged infraction carried only a written warning rather than dismissal—were ignored, underscoring the vital importance of mental health safeguards during official investigations.
An inquest held in August by a coroner concluded that the Treasury failed to follow its own written disciplinary policy. Had the policy been applied correctly, it would have made clear that dismissal was not the likely outcome. The coroner formally ruled that the meeting between Chloe and her managers "materially contributed" to her death.
"It beggars belief that an organisation that is front and central in our government cannot get it right."
David Moffat
When asked if he felt the Treasury had taken responsibility, David replied, "Not yet." He noted, however, that he and his wife Anne received a letter on Tuesday from the Treasury's permanent secretary, James Bowler, following a meeting with him last August. The family is currently considering whether to pursue further action against the Treasury to seek proper redress.
In response, the Treasury stated that it will learn lessons from this tragedy, working urgently to address the coroner's findings while introducing immediate changes to its guidance, support, and wellbeing arrangements.
Source: BBC Politics
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