New move to end leaks in Patel row
THE HEAD of the civil service has ordered an end to media leaks in a missive to Government staff as claims of feuding at the top of the Home Office continue.
Cabinet Secretary Sir Mark Sedwill told all civil servants that advice they provide for ministers and any debates around it should remain private.
But the move went down among staff “like a cup of cold sick”, a source said. It is the latest development in the furore over allegations that Home Secretary Priti Patel clashed with senior officials, belittled colleagues and is distrusted by intelligence chiefs.
Ms Patel has expressed concern at the “false” claims while allies continued to describe her as a demanding boss but not a bully.
In the message sent yesterday,
Sir Mark referred to the “recent stories of tensions within Whitehall, sparked by attributable briefings and leaks to the media”.
He said: “This besmirches this country’s hard-won reputation for good governance and is a distraction from the vital work of the thousands of civil servants delivering the Government’s agenda and the public services on which our citizens rely.”
Sir Mark went on to say: “Candour, confidentiality and courtesy between ministers, special advisers and civil servants are crucial to the trust and confidence on which good governance depends.
“Civil servants should at all times be confident they can give the honest, impartial and objective advice on which ministers can rely.
“Both should be confident that this advice, and any debate that surrounds it, will remain private.”
He added: “I know the whole Civil Service is committed to delivery of the Government’s agenda and to our enduring work to protect and promote the interests of our citizens, communities and country.”
A civil service source said the message had “gone down like a cup of cold sick” among some staff, who resented the note because it “feels like a ticking off”, even though many regard the stories as the result of a political row that did not involve them.
The Government on Sunday moved to strongly deny claims that MI5 chiefs do not trust Ms Patel and were limiting intelligence sharing.
Meanwhile, Security Minister
James Brokenshire said the reports were “absolute nonsense”.
He conceded there was huge frustration across the Home Office
around some of the false assertions that have been made publicly about Ms Patel.
A Home Office spokesman said: “The Home Secretary and permanent secretary are deeply concerned about the number of false allegations appearing in the media.
“They are focused on delivering the Home Office’s hugely important agenda, which includes creating an immigration system that works for the UK, putting more police on the streets and keeping the public safe from terrorism.”
The Home Secretary and MI5 “have a strong and close working relationship” and no information was being withheld, a Government spokesman said.