Home Secretary Priti Patel is coming under pressure to explain explosive allegations levelled against her by Home Office boss Sir Philip Rutnam who quit on Saturday.

The Home Office's permanent secretary accused Ms Patel of orchestrating a "vicious" campaign against him.

In a tearful resignation statement, which will rock Whitehall, Sir Philip confirmed widespread reports of a bitter feud with the home secretary.

Sir Philip revealed he had received allegations of Ms Patel "shouting and swearing, belittling people, making unreasonable and repeated demands", and argued her behaviour had "created fear".

He also said he did not believe her claim that she was not involved in the campaign against him.


The Home Office has refused to comment.

Image: The home secretary is facing claims of 'shouting and swearing, belittling people' in the department

Labour leadership candidate Sir Keir Starmer has called on Ms Patel to respond to the bullying accusations.

Sir Keir said: "The Home Secretary has a duty to come to Parliament on Monday to explain the allegations made about her own conduct."

He has also called for Cabinet Secretary Mark Sedwill to start "an immediate investigation" into the circumstances surrounding Sir Philip's departure.

"There are now urgent questions that must be answered and steps that need to be taken," he said.

Image: Sir Keir Starmer says Ms Patel has 'a duty to come to Parliament on Monday to explain the allegations made about her own conduct'

Ms Patel and Sir Philip had previously released a joint statement to deny claims of a deep rift at the top of the department, following allegations that she had clashed with senior officials, disparaged colleagues and was not trusted by MI5 chiefs.

One report suggested Ms Patel had tried to move Sir Philip from her department after they had a series of run-ins.

Rumours of the departmental turmoil prompted Downing Street to insist that the prime minister has "full confidence" in Ms Patel.

However, the simmering tensions have now erupted in public, with Sir Philip delivering a scathing attack on the home secretary as he resigned after a career spanning 33 years.

He said: "I am making this statement now because I will be issuing a claim against the Home Office for constructive dismissal.

"In the last 10 days I have been the target of a vicious and orchestrated briefing campaign.

"It has been alleged that I have briefed the media against the home secretary.

"This along with many other claims is completely false."

Sir Philip went on: "The home secretary categorically denied any involvement in this campaign to the Cabinet Office.

"I regret I do not believe her. She has not made the effort I would expect to dissociate herself from the comments.

"Even despite this campaign I was willing to effect a reconciliation with the home secretary.

"But despite my efforts to engage with her, Priti Patel has made no effort to engage with me to discuss this.

"I believe these events give me very strong grounds to claim constructive, unfair dismissal and I will be pursuing that claim in the courts."

He added: "My experience has been extreme, but I consider there is evidence that it was part of a wider pattern of behaviour.

"One of my duties as permanent secretary was to protect the health, safety and well-being of our 35,000 people.

"This created tension with the home secretary and I have encouraged her to change her behaviours."

He added: "I have received allegations that her conduct has included shouting and swearing, belittling people, making unreasonable and repeated demands.

"Behaviour that created fear and needed some bravery to call out."

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Sir Philip said: "I know that resigning in this way will have very serious implications for me personally.

"The Cabinet Office offered me a financial settlement that would have avoided this outcome.

"I am also aware that there will continue to be briefing against me now I have made this decision.

"But I am hopeful that it may at least now not be directed towards my colleagues or the department."

In tears, he went on: "This has been a very difficult decision.

"But I hope that my stand will help in maintaining the quality of government in this country, which includes hundreds of thousands of civil servants loyally dedicated to delivering this government's agenda."

Labour's Yvette Cooper, chairwoman of the Commons home affairs committee, said: "This is a shocking breakdown in the normal functioning of government. It is appalling the home secretary and prime minister have allowed it to get to this point."

Given the major issues facing the nation, including crime, terrorism and post-Brexit talks, the former cabinet minister said: "We cannot afford to have a dysfunctional and distracted Home Office."

Labour frontbencher Jon Trickett said: "It is astonishing that a senior civil servant in the Home Office feels driven to sue this chaotic government for constructive dismissal."

Sky News is seeking a response from Ms Patel.