Priti Patel staff member ‘received payout after attempting suicide’ following bullying claims

Woman was shouted at and dismissed from private office role because Ms Patel 'doesn’t like your face', according to legal correspondence

A civil servant allegedly attempted to kill herself after being shouted at by Priti Patel and later received a £25,000 payout from the government on a no liability basis, it has been claimed.

The woman was shouted at, told to get lost and dismissed from her job in the minister’s private office because Ms Patel “doesn’t like your face”, according to legal correspondence seen by the BBC.

The incident allegedly took place in October 2015, when the home secretary – now embroiled in fresh bullying allegations which she has denied – was employment minister, it was reported.

The woman took an overdose of prescription medicines and had to be taken home by her husband, where she attempted to kill herself, the legal correspondence said.

A complaint was brought for unfair dismissal, harassment, victimisation and discrimination, but did not reach a tribunal because the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) settled the case for £25,000 in April 2017, without admission of liability, the BBC said.

By that time, Ms Patel had been promoted to international development secretary – a post she was sacked from later that year, before Boris Johnson revived her career.

The case has come to light after the shock weekend resignation of the Home Office’s top civil servant, who accused Ms Patel of lying about a “vicious” campaign orchestrated against him and creating a climate of fear in her department.

Philip Rutnam plans to take his case for constructive dismissal to an employment tribunal, which could call the home secretary, as well as Dominic Cummings and Mr Johnson, as witnesses.

And those allegations are now being investigated by the Cabinet Secretary as possible breaches of the ministerial code, plunging Ms Patel’s career into jeopardy again.

According to the documents seen by the BBC, the unnamed civil servant in the earlier case was used to being shouted at, but the incident in question took place “without warning or apparent provocation”.

After being informed Ms Patel had removed her from her role, the woman took the overdose, returned to her office and lay her head on the desk, the BBC reported.

She was then taken home by her husband, where she attempted to take her life again and was then off work for a lengthy period of time.

When the £25,000 settlement was reached, the DWP did not accept liability, the BBC said.

Ms Patel has been asked to respond to the allegations. Sources close to the home secretary have previously said she was not aware of any complaint while she was at the DWP.

Meanwhile, the prime minister continued to stand by his home secretary, even after the Cabinet Secretary’s inquiry was announced.

“I think that Priti is doing an outstanding job and the Home Office is a tough beat – everybody knows that – and there’s a huge programme that she has to put forward,” Mr Johnson said.

He added he had “absolutely every confidence in her”, before adding: “I also have massive confidence and faith in our top civil servants. They are a wonderful group of people.

“None of us could do our jobs. None of us politicians, elected politicians, could do our jobs without their brilliance of mind and their impartiality.”

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, you can contact a Samaritan for confidential support on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org