Patel’s no bully, says Cabinet colleague as she faces calls to quit
of the case, not least because it looks like it might be going to court, and I’m not close to it.”
Asked on BBC Radio 5 Live whether he was accusing Sir Philip of lying, Mr Hancock added: “I’m not getting into that.”
Former Transport Minister Ms Ghani used her appearance on Sky News to suggest that Ms Patel could be being judged more harshly because she is a woman.
She said: “My experience of working with Priti is that she is incredibly determined. She provides strong leadership and she’s delivering some very important aspects of our policy.
“I do think it’s curious that if you’re providing leadership, if you’re determined, working at a fantastic pace, that within men that is seen as a fantastic skill and for women sometimes it’s seen as challenging.”
Labour has looked to ramp up the pressure on the under-fire Home Secretary, with shadow chancellor John McDonnell suggesting she could be forced to resign. Mr McDonnell, when asked if Ms Patel could stay in her post, told Sky News’ Sophy Ridge on Sunday: “I can’t see it, it’s bizarre.”
In his statement on Saturday, Sir Philip said the campaign against him included “false” claims he had briefed the media against the Home Secretary.
He said: “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.
“I believe these events give me very strong grounds to claim constructive, unfair dismissal and I will be pursuing that claim in the courts.”