British PM stands by minister found to have bullied staff
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson stood by Home Secretary Priti Patel on Friday despite an investigator’s conclusion that she bullied members of her staff. A report said Patel had not met the standards required of a government minister, and concluded her behavior fit the definition of bullying.
Cabinet ministers found to have breached the ministerial code are generally expected to resign. But the government said the prime minister had “full confidence” in Patel and “considers this matter now closed.”
Johnson’s adviser on ministerial standards Alex Allan, who led the investigation into Patel, resigned instead, saying he could not continue in his job.
“I recognize that it is for the prime minister to make a judgment on whether actions by a minister amount to a breach of the ministerial code,” Allan said.
“But I feel that it is right that I should now resign from my position as the prime minister’s independent adviser on the code.” Patel thanked Johnson for his support and said she was “sorry that my behavior in the past has upset people.”
“I acknowledge that I am direct and have at times got frustrated,” she said, but added that “it has never been my intention to cause upset to anyone.” “I am very grateful for the hard work of thousands of civil servants who help to deliver the government ’s agenda,” Patel said in a statement.
Patel has been under investigation since March after several civil servants accused her of bullying. The top civil servant in the Home Office, Philip Rutnam resigned that month, saying Patel had belittled employees and fostered an environment of fear in the department. She denied the allegations.
The investigation’s conclusions were published Friday after months of delay by Johnson’s office.
Allan concluded that Patel “has not consistently met the high standards required by the Ministerial Code of treating her civil servants with consideration and respect.”
“Her approach on occasions has amounted to behavior that can be described as bullying in terms of the impact felt by individuals,” he said.