Boris Johnson says he "absolutely" has confidence in Home Secretary Priti Patel, who has been accused of bullying.

It follows the resignation of the Home Office's most senior civil servant, Sir Philip Rutnam, who said he had heard claims of Ms Patel "shouting and swearing, belittling people, making unreasonable and repeated demands".

As he quit on Saturday, Sir Philip vowed to sue the government for constructive dismissal.

In full: Sophy Ridge On Sunday

The official's explosive departure from his £175,000 per year role has increased pressure on Ms Patel, following weeks of reports of ructions in her department.

But during a visit to Public Health England, the prime minister described Ms Patel as a "fantastic" minister.


"It is never an easy job, as anyone who has been home secretary will testify," he said.

"It is one of the toughest jobs in government.

"There is a big, big task ahead of us now. We are delivering, at last, a new immigration system for this country, a points-based immigration system."

Mr Johnson also said he was "full of admiration" for the civil service, and that politicians could not "accomplish things without the fantastic, absolutely brilliant alpha minds" in Whitehall.

McDonnell on Priti Patel: She's on her way out

Earlier, Health Secretary Matt Hancock also sprang to Ms Patel's defence.

"Priti is a very determined person but she's also very courteous," he told Sky News' Sophy Ridge On Sunday show.

He added: "I don't know the details of this case and, clearly, there's going to be a court case - I'm not going to go into the details.

"We all know that Priti is determined and that's right, that's good in a secretary of state. That's what you want to see.

"She's also very courteous in her dealings and I very much hope we can get on and deliver the government's agenda - the 20,000 police that she's recruiting and making sure that we crack down on crime.

"That's actually what people really care about."

'I don't believe Priti Patel'

But Labour's shadow chancellor John McDonnell told the same programme he "can't see" how Ms Patel can remain in her post.

He suggested Ms Patel be suspended as home secretary while an independent investigation takes place.

"It's bizarre," he said. "I was a civil servant before I became a politician… I worked with all parties and when you get a civil servant going public like this, it's unprecedented.

"I can't remember a case like this, so there must be something pretty bad that's gone on."

Mr McDonnell claimed Sir Philip's resignation also reflected badly on Mr Johnson's grip on his government.

He said: "Within a couple of months he's lost his chancellor, and now it looks as though he's going to lose his home secretary as well.

"I think that says something about Boris Johnson's own abilities and management of his own government."

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Describing the allegations against Ms Patel as "pretty grim", Mr McDonnell added: "I don't mind a shake-up, I don't mind ruffling a few feathers but you don't go into abuse.

"That's what the allegation is here - swearing and shouting and abusing people and bullying people.

"You don't go into that, so there's something seriously wrong here.

"One of the ways the prime minister could go forward is to have an independent investigation.

"But during that period, you'd have to suspend the home secretary whilst that went on."