Home Secretary Priti Patel 'cleared of bullying staff after investigation'

Sir Philip Rutnam quit amid criticism of Priti Patel's alleged behaviour
PA
Imogen Braddick28 April 2020
WEST END FINAL

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Priti Patel has reportedly been cleared of bullying members of staff after an official investigation.

The investigation, ordered by Boris Johnson, found "no evidence" to support claims the Home Secretary had bullied staff at the Home Office, Department for Work and Pensions and Department for International Trade, the Telegraph reports.

The report, carried out by the Cabinet Secretary Sir Mark Sedwill and reportedly completed within the last week, is understood to have been handed to the Prime Minister on his return to Downing Street on Monday after his recovery from coronavirus.

"They have looked at all the claims and found nothing,” said a Whitehall source told the newspaper.

"They trawled through lots of material but found no evidence."

Home Secretary Priti Patel asked the public to stay indoors
10 Downing Street/AFP via Getty

It is understood that Mr Johnson asked the Cabinet Office to "establish the facts", in line with the Ministerial Code, and that the process is ongoing.

An investigation was launched after top civil servant, Sir Philip Rutnam, who was the Home Office's permanent secretary, quit in February amid criticism of Ms Patel's alleged behaviour.

When he quit, Sir Philip was highly critical of Ms Patel, claiming he had been the target of a "vicious and orchestrated briefing campaign" which he accused her of orchestrating, and said the decision to resign was with "great regret after a career of 33 years".

In his televised statement, Sir Philip said he’d received reports of the Home Secretary "swearing, belittling people and making unreasonable and repeated demands" towards staff.

Sir Philip formally launched his legal action last Monday, submitting a claim to an employment tribunal.

Ms Patel has previously expressed concern at the “false” claims against her and allies described her as a “demanding” boss but not a bully.

She has also expressed her “regret” at the decision of Sir Philip to quit.

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