Home Secretary cleared of claims that she bullied staff following investigation

THE Home Secretary Priti Patel has been cleared, by an official investigation, of bullying members of her staff after an official investigation was concluded. Prime Minister Boris Johnson ordered the review which was carried out by the Cabinet Secretary Mark Sedwill. The conclusion was that there was “no evidence” to support the claims that Ms Patel had bullied staff at the Home Office, the Department for Work and Pensions and the Department for International Trade. 

The Prime Minister has repeatedly backed the Home Secretary and has said she was doing an “outstanding job”. The report by Sir Mark Sedwill was delivered to the Prime Minister on his return to Downing Street on Monday.  A Whitehall source has said: “They have looked at all the claims and found nothing. They trawled through lots of material but found no evidence.”

Sir Iain Duncan Smith who is a former Conservative leader and colleague of Priti Patel at the Department for Work and pensions has said that he told the inquiry that there was no truth in the allegations of bullying. Sir Ian said: “I was categoric in the inquiry that there was no allegation against her, nor was she investigated at the time”. He also went on to say that the Government should investigate the motives of those who had accused her of bullying.

The investigation was launched after the resignation of top civil servant, Sir Philip Rutnam, who accused Ms Patel of lying and bullying staff. Mr Rutnam went on to make a speech to the press which was broadcast live across the mainstream media. 

Ms Patel has been defended by her allies who have called her a tough, assertive and an effective leader. These people include but are not limited to the former Charity Commission chief William Shawcross and Conservative election guru Sir Lynton Crosby.

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