Priti Patel: Investigation launched into bullying allegations against home secretary
Boris Johnson has asked the Cabinet Office to "establish the facts" about whether the home secretary broke the ministerial code.
Tuesday 3 March 2020 09:52, UK
An investigation into bullying allegations against Home Secretary Priti Patel will be carried out, the government has announced.
Speaking in the House of Commons, Michael Gove said the Cabinet Office has been asked by Prime Minister Boris Johnson to "establish the facts" about whether Ms Patel breached the ministerial code.
It comes after Sir Philip Rutnam, the Home Office's most senior civil servant, quit and vowed to sue the government for constructive dismissal.
The official's explosive departure from his £175,000 per year role has increased pressure on Ms Patel, following weeks of reports of tensions within her department.
In his resignation statement, Sir Philip also said he had heard claims of Ms Patel "shouting and swearing, belittling people, making unreasonable and repeated demands".
Responding to an urgent question in the Commons, Cabinet Office minister Mr Gove noted that his cabinet colleague "absolutely rejects" claims she breached the ministerial code.
"The prime minister has expressed his full confidence in her and having worked closely with the home secretary over a number of years, I have the highest regard for her - she is a superb minister doing a great job," he said.
Mr Gove continued: "This government always takes any complaints relating to the ministerial code seriously, and in line with the process set out in the ministerial code the prime minister has asked the Cabinet Office to establish the facts.
"As is usual, the independent adviser on ministerial interests, Sir Alex Allan, is available to provide advice to the prime minister."
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the Cabinet Office probe did not go far enough.
He said: "The government must now call in an external lawyer as quite rightly suggested by the union for senior civil servants, the First Division Association.
"A minister in breach of the ministerial code cannot remain in office and should be dismissed."
FDA general secretary Dave Penman, whose union represents civil servants, has written to Cabinet Secretary Sir Mark Sedwill to call for a "rapid" independent investigation.
Mr Penman said the Cabinet Office probe "falls far short of the independent inquiry we have called for".
Describing the allegations against Ms Patel as "serious", the Labour leader said that if they were true it would "clearly constitute a breach of the ministerial code".
He also questioned why the PM had given his backing to the home secretary "without a proper investigation", before adding: "This is a government led by bullies, presided over by a part-time prime minister who not only can't be bothered to turn up but simply won't take the vital action required when the very integrity and credibility of the government is on the line."
Mr Johnson on Sunday described Ms Patel as a "fantastic" minister and stressed he "absolutely" has confidence in his home secretary.
Downing Street said on Monday the government treats all allegations of bullying "seriously" but would not comment further due to the legal action launched by Sir Philip.
Reacting to Mr Corbyn's criticism, Mr Gove said that "of course" the investigation would be robust and fit for purpose.
SNP MP Joanna Cherry queried why the government would not agree to an independent inquiry, asking: "What are they afraid of?"
Mr Gove said in response that there will be a "proper and fair inquiry" into the allegations.
Conservative MP Julian Lewis suggested that Ms Patel was a victim of sexism, asking: "How does my right honourable friend think Margaret Thatcher would have got on if she had been subjected to the same smears and sexism as have been used against the present Iron Lady in the Home Office?"
Mr Gove replied: "Progress in the past has depended on strong ministers and indeed strong prime ministers setting exacting terms but progress has also depended on having a brilliant and able civil service able to act with confidence and provide candid advice."
Fellow Conservative MP Mark Fletcher echoed this, telling the Commons: "There seems to be a pattern between the appointment of female home secretaries and vicious briefings in the media against them.
"Is it possible that some of these unelected men have a problem with taking instructions from powerful women?"
A third Tory MP, Robert Halfon, claimed the allegations against Ms Patel were part of an "establishment" attempt to frustrate the Conservative government's agenda.
He said: "Is it not the case that this all started with briefings from unknown sources against the home secretary and not the other way around?
"My constituents of Harlow, they want to have fairer immigration, they want 20,000 (new) police on our streets. Does this not have the nasty whiff of an establishment who are trying to stop these policies?"
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Yvette Cooper, a Labour MP and chairwoman of the Home Affairs Select Committee, asked how many bullying allegations had been made against the home secretary.
Mr Gove told the Commons it would be "improper to comment on an "individual personnel case" but said every complaint would be investigated.
Hilary Benn also asked whether Downing Street had received any complaints in relation to Ms Patel's previous jobs as international development secretary and work and pensions minister.
The BBC later reported that a former aide to Ms Patel received a £25,000 payout after claiming she was bullied by her.
It said it had seen legal correspondence claiming the woman had taken an overdose following the alleged incident in 2015, when the home secretary was an employment minister.
Responding to the BBC story, a spokesman for Ms Patel told Sky News: "The home secretary completely rejects all allegations made against her."