Priti Patel bullying investigation launched by Cabinet Office

Head of civil service will 'establish the facts' MPs told - hours after Boris Johnson refused to say if inquiry will take place

Priti Patel is being investigated by the cabinet secretary over allegations of bullying, following the shock resignation of her top civil servant.

Mark Sedwill, the head of the civil service, has been asked to “establish the facts” about the home secretary’s behaviour and the breakdown of relations at her department, Michael Gove told MPs.

The announcement of the investigation – into alleged breaches of the ministerial code – came just hours after Boris Johnson’s spokesman refused to say if an inquiry would take place.

Mr Gove, the Cabinet Office minister, also hinted it would look into allegations about Ms Patel in her previous posts, at the international development and work and pensions departments.

“It is the case that every complaint legitimately raised will be investigated,” he said, answering an urgent question.

Alex Allen, the prime minister’s independent adviser on ministerial standards, would be “available to provide advice” if any breaches of the code are found to have taken place.

The inquiry comes after Philip Rutnam, the permanent secretary at the Home Office, accusing Ms Patel of lying about a “vicious” campaign she had orchestrated against him and creating a climate of fear in her department.

Announcing his resignation, he 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.

Mr Gove told MPs that Ms Patel “absolutely rejects” the allegations and that the prime minister had “expressed his full confidence in her”.

“Having worked closely with the home secretary over a number of years, I have the highest regard for her. She is a super minister doing a great job,” he said.

But he added: “The government always takes any complaints relating to the ministerial code seriously and in line with the process set out in the ministerial code, the prime minister has asked the Cabinet Office to establish the facts.”

The inquiry raises the risk that Mr Johnson will lose two of his most senior cabinet ministers in just a few weeks, after the resignation of Sajid Javid as chancellor.

Ms Patel was forced to quit as international development secretary in November 2017, over her extraordinary plan to funnel UK foreign aid cash through the Israeli army.

She was accused of effectively running her own foreign policy, in the critical Middle East region – with her premature flight back from Africa for her dismissal memorably tracked by the British public.

Allegations that Ms Patel bullied staff first emerged almost two weeks ago, when The Times claimed she had been accused of belittling officials, making unreasonable demands and creating an “atmosphere of fear”.

Before Sir Philip’s walked out, the Cabinet Office tried to negotiate a payoff for him to leave quietly, but he opted to go public and to a tribunal.

The BBC has claimed another formal complaint about her was made when she was the employment minister.

Jeremy Corbyn, who forced the urgent question, made clear Ms Patel’s position must be on the line, saying: “A minister in breach of the ministerial code cannot remain in office and must be dismissed.”