Priti Patel, Britain’s home secretary, has said she is “deeply concerned” about what she claims are false allegations against her, including suggestions that MI5 is withholding information because of concerns about her abilities.
The Home Office took the unusual step of issuing a statement saying that both Ms Patel and Philip Rutnam, her chief civil servant, deplored the claims, which have created the impression of infighting and disarray in the department.
A Home Office spokesman said Ms Patel and Sir Philip were “deeply concerned about the number of false allegations appearing in the media”.
He added the pair were focused on delivering their department’s “hugely important agenda”, such as an overhaul of the immigration system, putting more police officers on the streets and combating terrorism.
The joint statement was also unusual in that it sought to present a united front between the home secretary and her permanent secretary; last week it emerged that Ms Patel had tried to force Sir Philip out of the Home Office.
Government officials confirmed on Thursday that Ms Patel had called on Downing Street to replace Sir Philip in the role he has held since April 2017. There were also reports in the Times newspaper accusing the home secretary of presiding over an “atmosphere of fear” in her department, and “encouraging behaviour outside the rule of law”. Her allies dismissed the accusations, describing them as “completely false and unfounded”.
A report in the Sunday Times that MI5 was withholding information from Ms Patel because of concerns about her ability to understand the subtleties of intelligence briefings left the home secretary “livid”, according to allies.
The report suggested that the minister responsible for security was not being kept fully informed about threats facing the country and were swiftly denied by security sources and by the Home Office itself.
A security source said: “Reports suggesting that the home secretary and MI5 do not have a strong working relationship are simply untrue.
“The home secretary is briefed daily on intelligence matters in exactly the same way as any previous post holder. Any report suggesting otherwise is simply wrong and does not serve the public interest.”
