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The top civil servant at the Home Office has quit with an explosive attack on Priti Patel, accusing her of “belittling” staff and orchestrating a “vicious” campaign against him.
Sir Philip Rutnam dramatically resigned from his post on Saturday morning, claiming he had been the victim of a “vicious campaign” in which he was accused of briefing the media against the Home Secretary.
In a lengthy statement, Sir Philip claimed his alleged treatment was “part of a wider pattern of behaviour”, including Ms Patel reportedly creating “fear” in the department through “belittling people and making unreasonable demands”.
He added that the Cabinet Office had offered him a “financial settlement” to “avoid this outcome”, but that he had turned that down and instead intends to sue the government for constructive dismissal.
Reading out a statement on BBC News on Saturday, Sir Philip said: “In the last 10 days I have been the target of a vicious and orchestrated briefing campaign. It has been alleged that I have briefed the media against the Home Secretary.
“This, along with many other claims, is completely false.”
Sir Philip went on: “The Home Secretary categorically denied any involvement in this campaign to the Cabinet Office. I regret I do not believe her.
“She has not made the effort I would expect to dissociate herself from the comments.
“Even despite this campaign, I was willing to effect a reconciliation with the Home Secretary.
“But despite my efforts to engage with her, Priti Patel has made no effort to engage with me to discuss this.
“I believe these events give me very strong grounds to claim constructive, unfair dismissal and I will be pursuing that claim in the courts.”
Ms Patel has been the subject of a string of reports which suggested she had clashed with senior officials.
One report suggested Ms Patel had tried to move Sir Philip from her department after they had a series of rows .
Sir Philip made light of those reports when he appeared at a police summit in London on Thursday, saying: “You probably have already heard a great deal more about permanent secretary’s in the last few days than you ever expected to.”
Ms Patel expressed concern at the “false” claims while allies described her as a “demanding” boss but not a bully .
Ms Patel and Sir Philip were also forced to fire off a heavyweight denial of the allegation that MI5 did not trust her, an accusation seen as very serious because it suggested she was unable to do her job properly.
The swirl of reports about turmoil in the Home Office prompted Downing Street to insist on Monday that the Prime Minister has “full confidence” in Ms Patel.
But, giving his statement on Saturday, Sir Philip said he had “encouraged” the Home Secretary to “change her behaviours” as his duties included “protecting the health, safety and well-being” of staff.
He went on: “My experience has been extreme but I consider there is evidence that it was part of a wider pattern of behaviour.
“I have received allegations that her conduct has included shouting and swearing, belittling people, making unreasonable and repeated demands. Behaviour that created fear and needed some bravery to call out.”
He added: “I know that resigning in this way will have serious implications for me personally – the Cabinet Office offered me a financial settlement that would have avoided this outcome.
“I am aware that there will continue to be briefing against me now I have made this decision, but I am hopeful that at least it may not now be directed towards my colleagues or the department.”
He said that it had been a “very difficult decision”, but added: “I hope that my stand may help in maintaining the quality of Government in our country – which includes hundreds of thousands of civil servants, loyally dedicated to delivering this Government’s agenda.”
Responding to Sir Philip’s resignation, Dave Penman, general secretary of the FDA, the senior public servants’ union, said it “demonstrates once again the destructive consequences of anonymous briefings against public servants who are unable to publicly defend themselves.”
He added: “This cowardly practice is not only ruining lives and careers, but at a time when the Home Office is being tasked with delivering a demanding Government agenda on immigration, and preparing for a public health emergency, it has diverted energy and resource in to responding to unfounded accusations from sources claiming to be allies of the Home Secretary.”
He said Sir Philip “had a choice to resign and go quietly with financial compensation. Instead he has chosen to speak out against the attacks on public servants.
“I know many thousands of his colleagues will recognise the courage and integrity he is showing in doing so and will applaud his decision.”
And he added: “Only the Prime Minister can put a stop to this behaviour and unless he does so, he will have to accept his own responsibility for the consequences.”
After the announcement, the Liberal Democrats accused the Government of “outrageous” treatment of civil servants.
Christine Jardine, the party’s home affairs spokeswoman, said: “We need to be asking serious questions about the culture that is being created in the Home Office. The way these Conservatives are treating public servants and trying to undermine the rule of law is outrageous.
“The Tories are acting just like Donald Trump, putting ideology ahead of competence, and it’s the British people who will pay the price.”
