Top civil servant quits over ‘vicious campaign’ by Patel
THE Home Office’s most senior civil servant launched an extraordinary attack on Home Secretary Priti Patel yesterday after quitting his post.
Sir Philip Rutnam claimed she was behind a “vicious” campaign against him and had lied about her involvement.
The career civil servant, 54, has turned down a financial settlement offer and is to sue for constructive dismissal.
In a further shot at Ms Patel, Sir Philip said he had received “allegations that her conduct has included shouting and swearing, belittling people, making unreasonable and repeated demands... behaviour that created fear and that needed some bravery to call out”.
He went on: “One of my duties was to protect the health, safety and wellbeing of our 35,000 people.this created tension with the Home Secretary and I have encouraged her to change her behaviour.”
Sir Philip’s resignation follows a string of reports of tension between the former permanent secretary and Ms Patel, 47, a rising star on thetory Right.
It comes two weeks after Sajid Javid quit as Chancellor rather than agree to Downing Street demands to sack aides.
His resignation led to calls for the Prime Minister to put a stop to what is claimed to be a campaign by his chief adviser
Dominic Cummings to undermine the Civil Service.
Labour leadership contender Lisa Nandy said: “The Home Office is in chaos. This Government is following thetrump playbook... It’s time for the Government to come clean on the scale of bullying by ministers and advisers.”
But others said civil servants are failing to adapt to the more dynamic, radical culture now at the heart of government.
Chriswilkins, who served astheresa May’s director of strategy, said: “Some in the Civil Service are struggling to adapt to a government with a decisive majority and clear agenda.the vast majority of civil servants I’ve worked with have been committed and excellent but there are always a few who are more focused on what can’t be done than what can.
“That’s never going to go down well with Priti and I think that may be what we’re seeing here.”
Formerwelsh secretary David Jones, a senior member of the Public Administration Select Committee, was not impressed by the civil servant’s “unfortunate mode of departing”.
He said: “Sir Philip may well have a legal action he wishes to pursue but sniping personally at a minister does not seem to me to accord with the established traditions of our civil service.
“A dignified silence would have been more appropriate.”