Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Tory HQ ‘ignored Patel bullying claims’ Boris: I’m sticking by her
TORY chiefs ignored bullying claims against Home Secretary Priti Patel, the Mirror has heard.
The Government handed a former aide to Ms Patel a £25,000 payout after she claimed she was bullied by the then-employment minister.
And we have been told she also complained to Tory Party HQ, but received no response.
Legal notes, seen by the BBC, allege the woman took an overdose of prescription medicine after a 2015 incident involving Ms Patel.
The Home Secretary faces a Cabinet Office probe on claims over treatment of officials in three departments during her ministerial career.
Labour yesterday accused Boris Johnson of “covering up” bullying and said it had received fresh allegations about Ms Patel from Government staff in the past 24 hours.
But the PM said he was “sticking by” Ms Patel and put on a public show of support by sitting beside her in the Commons.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn called on him to release the findings of the Cabinet Office probe.
He said: “A government cannot be judge and jury over its own conduct – there has to be an independent element to that investigation.
“We have a part-time Prime Minister who barely turns up but is determined to cover up for bullies.”
Ms Patel could be forced to give evidence under oath to an employment tribunal launched by Sir Philip Rutnam. He quit as Home Office
Permanent Secretary at the weekend, accusing her of bullying and vowing to sue for constructive dismissal.
The case involving alleged bullying of the aide at the Department for Work and Pensions then emerged.
A third claim involved Ms Patel’s time as International Development Secretary, during which she allegedly harassed and belittled her private secretary so badly he was signed off with stress after six months.
Ms Patel denies bullying and her allies claim “disturbing dark forces” are trying to get her sacked.
A Home Office spokesman said: “[She] categorically rejects these allegations.”
Civil service chief Sir Mark Sedwill may be grilled on Ms Patel when he faces the Commons Public Administration Committee next week.
The Tory Party was approached for comment yesterday.