Upset claim as jobs minister ‘Piranha Patel had complaint 3 yrs ago’
A FORMAL complaint was allegedly made about Priti Patel’s conduct at least three years before she became Home Secretary.
The claim by a Whitehall source came as it emerged that her husband refers to her as “my personal piranha”.
They allege Ms Patel’s conduct was criticised while an employment minister at the Department for Work and Pensions between 2015 and 2016.
A separate BBC report claims the complaint, whose substance was not known, came from her private office.
It comes after Ms Patel’s top civil servant, Sir Philip Rutnam, quit and accused her of lying and “shouting and swearing” at staff. He plans to sue for constructive dismissal.
A senior Government insider said that they expect the case to get “very, very messy”, while a Tory source predicted that Ms Patel would be “out of a job” by the end of the year.
The Government has refused to confirm or deny a historic complaint. The silence is a stark contrast to the
Home Office’s response when Ms Patel was first accused of bullying – which she vehemently denies.
Ms Patel’s spokesman told the BBC she was “not aware” of the complaint.
A DWP insider was also unaware but said she could be “difficult”, adding: “She would often argue. She wasn’t massively popular.”
Boris Johnson said of Ms Patel yesterday: “She’s a fantastic Home Secretary. It is one of the toughest jobs in government.” He added he is “full of admiration” for the civil service. Meanwhile, sources claim Ms Patel’s husband, Alex Sawyer, compared her with a piranha. One said: “This is due to the fact she’s quite small and combative.” A spokesman said Ms Patel was “not commenting”.
This is due to the fact that she’s quite small and combative
SOURCE ON HUSBAND’S NICKNAME FOR MS PATEL
Tory piranha Priti Patel is dissolving in her own bile as the victims of her alleged bullying bite back.