Boris Johnson will not fire Priti Patel as Home Secretary over allegations of bullying despite an official report saying she broke ministerial rules, it was reported today.
The long-awaited probe into the Cabinet minister’s bahaviour at three departments ruled she ‘had not met the requirements of the ministerial code to treat civil servants with consideration and respect’.
Ms Patel faces allegations she belittled colleagues and clashed with senior officials, with the investigation launched in march
Demands have been growing for the publication of its findings into Ms Patel’s conduct, with the former head of the Civil Service Sir Mark Sedwill saying this week it had been on the Prime Minister’s desk since September.
The BBC and the Sun tonight reported that Ms Patel had been found to have broken rules, but that it may not have been intentional.
The Financial Times said she would be handed a written warning but not lose her Cabinet post.
Demands have been growing for the publication of its findings into Ms Patel’s conduct. in recent weeks and it is due to be released shortly, the Financial Times reported today
A draft report last summer found the Home Secretary had breached the requirements in the ministerial code to treat civil servants with consideration and respect, according to the BBC.
Channel 4 News said the full report would not be published although its findings would be covered in the annual report of the Prime Minister’s adviser on ministerial interests, Sir Alex Allan.
He was said to have concluded that while some of her behaviour broke the rules, even if ‘unintentionally’, her conduct since had been ‘more positive’.
It said she would be handed a written warning by Mr Johnson but not lose her Cabinet post over its findings
He was also said to have criticised some Home Office officials for a lack of flexibility in taking her directions and a failure to give her better feedback.
Sir Philip Rutnam, who was the Home Office’s permanent secretary, quit earlier this year, accusing Ms Patel of a ‘vicious and orchestrated briefing campaign’ against him and is claiming constructive dismissal at an employment tribunal.
Ms Patel has expressed concern at the ‘false’ claims and she denies all allegations of bullying. Allies have described her as a ‘demanding’ boss but not a bully.
Shadow home secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds said: ‘These revelations could not be more serious. This has all the hallmarks of a cover up from the Prime Minister and raises fundamental questions about his judgement.
‘His actions are all but condoning bullying in the workplace. In any other area of life this would not be acceptable. Yet again, it seems to be one rule for them and another for everyone else.
‘The report needs to be published in full immediately and both the Prime Minister and Home Secretary must come before Parliament to answer questions on this mess.’
Mr Thomas-Symonds said he had written to the chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life – former MI5 director general Lord Evans of Weardale – asking him to investigate Ms Patel’s conduct.
Sir Philip Rutnam, who was the Home Office’s permanent secretary, quit earlier this year, accusing Ms Patel of a ‘vicious and orchestrated briefing campaign’ against him and is claiming constructive dismissal at an employment tribunal.
Despite daily questions to Downing Street, the result of the probe has yet to be revealed.
FDA union general secretary Dave Penman today said: ‘Thousands of civil servants who support ministers every day are waiting to see whether (Mr) Johnson will honour the commitments he gave when he took up office, or whether difficult party political considerations will outweigh his obligations as PM.’
He added: ‘If, as is being suggested, substance has been found in some of the allegations against the Home Secretary, then the Prime Minister should have no choice but to conclude that the code has been breached.
‘As Prime Minister, he is the sole arbiter of the ministerial code but he is also Minister for the Civil Service.
‘Having pledged his support for the Home Secretary when the investigation began, and now sat on the report since the summer, he has already undermined confidence in this being a fair and impartial process.’
Appearing in front of the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee this week, Lord Sedwill said He said: ‘I couldn’t tell you exactly, but the Cabinet Office, the proprietary and ethics team under me, were asked to establish the facts.
‘The Prime Minister then consults his independent adviser on ministerial interests Alex Allan.
‘And that process was certainly under way – it hadn’t concluded by the time I left, it was certainly under way.
‘I think Alex had been in discussions with the Prime Minister, I don’t know the exact date of when that part of the process was submitted to the PM but it was under way, it was with him, as I understand it.’
