Calls for independent inquiry into Patel’s behaviour as evidence mounts up
Priti Patel and Boris Johnson: allies against the civil service?
The Cabinet Office has launched an inquiry into whether Priti Patel has breached the ministerial code by bullying civil servants under her.
But MPs including Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn are demanding an independent inquisition as more evidence against her comes to light.
For example, Sir Philip Rutnam’s claim that he was offered a “financial settlement” to keep him from speaking out about the “vicious and orchestrated” plot against him may be validated by claims that another civil servant was driven to a suicide attempt by Ms Patel’s behaviour towards her at the Department for Work and Pensions.
The person involved apparently was shouted at, told to get lost and dismissed from her job in the minister’s private office because Ms Patel “doesn’t like your face”, according to legal correspondence seen by the BBC. She took an overdose of prescription medicines and had to be taken home by her husband, where she attempted to kill herself, the legal correspondence said.
The victim later brought a complaint for unfair dismissal, harassment, victimisation and discrimination, but the DWP hushed it up with a £25,000 settlement without admitting liability.
Worse than this is the claim that Boris Johnson himself has given support to ministers who wish to smear top civil servants.
Dave Penman, head of the senior civil servants union, the FDA, said Johnson and his closest aides have “ripped up the rule book” that ensured the ministers do not attack civil servants.
The allegation means it would be impossible to trust the finding of a Cabinet Office inquiry which could be influenced by Johnson.
Meanwhile the pressure is building against Ms Patel, with calls increasing for her to be suspended as a minister while her behaviour is investigated.
This is a power struggle at the heart of government.
Or so it seems to This Writer.
On one side, we have a civil service staffed by experts on government who know that politics is “the art of the possible” and are bound to advise MPs on how much of their plans are both possible and advisable.
On the other: a rabble of hard-right Tory authoritarians whose belief that their orders should be obeyed – no matter how insane – has been compared with fascism.
You’d better pray that the side of reason wins.
Have YOU donated to my crowdfunding appeal, raising funds to fight false libel claims by TV celebrities who should know better? These court cases cost a lot of money so every penny will help ensure that wealth doesn’t beat justice.
Vox Political needs your help!
If you want to support this site
(but don’t want to give your money to advertisers)
you can make a one-off donation here:
Here are four ways to be sure you’re among the first to know what’s going on.
1) Register with us by clicking on ‘Subscribe’ (in the left margin). You can then receive notifications of every new article that is posted here.
2) Follow VP on Twitter @VoxPolitical
3) Like the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/VoxPolitical/
Join the Vox Political Facebook page.
4) You could even make Vox Political your homepage at http://voxpoliticalonline.com
And do share with your family and friends – so they don’t miss out!
If you have appreciated this article, don’t forget to share it using the buttons at the bottom of this page. Politics is about everybody – so let’s try to get everybody involved!
Buy Vox Political books so we can continue
fighting for the facts.
The Livingstone Presumption is now available
in either print or eBook format here:
Health Warning: Government! is now available
in either print or eBook format here:
The first collection, Strong Words and Hard Times,
is still available in either print or eBook format here:
The laziest MP will undoubtebly claim that it’s her gender or ethnicity that’s being picked on rather than the fact that she is an unpleasant person based on the accounts so far,
I seem to remember David Cameron saying some 8 years ago, “Wait until you see what we will do to the BBC.”
Before that I am sure I recall ‘Return to Ranks’ Smith giggling that if people knew what the tories planned, they would be horrified.
I didn’t doubt either, and I am horrified by this return of fascism.
Ofc the government are now claiming that “dark forces” are at work to discredit ms Patel. They will whitewash it all. But remember that senior civil servants are usually quite right wing (despite claims that they are politically impartial) and the fact that the government drove one to resign is quite telling.