New bullying allegations emerge against Priti Patel
Embattled home secretary accused of harassing staff in 2017
Priti Patel is facing fresh bullying allegations after a third senior civil servant said they were mistreated by the controversial politician when she was the secretary of state for international development.
The Guardian quotes sources claiming that the home secretary “harassed and belittled” staff in her private office in 2017.
The allegations have been denied by sources close to Patel, who is already under pressure from allegations that she bullied her permanent secretary at the Home Office and an aide in the Department for Work and Pensions. However, they will increase pressure on Boris Johnson to ask his minister to step down.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
BBC’s Newsnight has reported that the Cabinet Office was aware of the latest claims claims and a witness is willing to give evidence at Rutnam’s employment tribunal.
Patel is accused of humiliating civil servants in front of others, of putting heavy pressure in emails and of creating a general sense that “everyone is hopeless”.
The claims were described to the programme as similar to those levelled against Patel by Philip Rutnam, who resigned as Home Office permanent secretary on Saturday.
In a public statement announcing his resignation on Saturday, Rutnam alleged that Patel’s conduct had included “swearing, belittling people, making unreasonable and repeated demands”.
The former permanent secretary also said he would be suing the Home Office for constructive dismissal.
A spokesperson for Patel said: “The home secretary completely rejects all allegations made against her.”
A Tory source defended the embattled politician, saying: “What we are seeing is a concerted effort by certain sections of the civil service to undermine a home secretary trying to deliver what people want on crime and immigration.
“It is deeply disturbing that dark forces are trying to influence the findings of a Cabinet Office inquiry.”
Controversy has followed Patel throughout her political career. In 2017, she resigned from the cabinet after it emerged that she had scheduled meetings with Israeli officials while on holiday but had failed to officially inform the Foreign Office.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise, refreshing and balanced take on the week’s news agenda - try The Week magazine. Get your first six issues for £6–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
The de-extinction process to bring woolly mammoths back to life
Under the Radar Biotechnology start-up's stem cell research brings possibility of genetically engineered species a step closer
By Austin Chen, The Week UK Published
-
Today's political cartoons - March 17, 2024
Cartoons Sunday's cartoons - history repeating, the Pope's white flag, and more
By The Week US Published
-
The Week Unwrapped: Derelict homes, Welsh mines, and vinyl
Podcast What can we do about abandoned property? Are old mines still doing us harm? And what do LP sales tell us about the economy?
By The Week Staff Published
-
Will new Welsh leader change UK relations?
Today's Big Question Vaughan Gething or Jeremy Miles will have to decide how closely to follow Keir Starmer when they become first minister
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Badenoch, Johnson or 'full Trump': who is the future of the Tory Party?
Today's Big Question Tory moderates are preparing to do battle with the right of the party in a post-Sunak leadership election
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
It's the economy, Sunak: has 'Rishession' halted Tory fightback?
Today's Big Question PM's pledge to deliver economic growth is 'in tatters' as stagnation and falling living standards threaten Tory election wipeout
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Nicola Sturgeon and the Covid Inquiry: another blow to her reputation?
Talking Point Scotland's ex-leader provokes outrage with testimony to Covid Inquiry about deleted WhatsApp messages from pandemic
By The Week UK Published
-
Why your local council may be going bust
The Explainer Across England, local councils are suffering from grave financial problems
By The Week UK Published
-
Rishi Sunak and the right-wing press: heading for divorce?
Talking Point The Telegraph launches 'assault' on PM just as many Tory MPs are contemplating losing their seats
By Keumars Afifi-Sabet, The Week UK Published
-
'Expat voters could fuel backlash against government at next election'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By The Week UK Published
-
'The Tories want you to know the world is getting more dangerous, but they aren't doing anything about it'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By The Week UK Published