Matt Hancock defends Priti Patel bullying claims: 'She is robust and determined'

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Cabinet minister Matt Hancock defended Priti Patel over bullying allegations today saying she is “robust and determined”.

The Health Secretary spoke out after Prime Minister Boris Johnson launched an investigation into claims surrounding the Home Secretary.

The Home Office’s most senior official Sir Philip Rutnam resigned on Saturday, accusing Ms Patel of leading a “vicious” campaign to oust him and vowing to sue for constructive dismissal.

Mr Hancock told the BBC: “Priti is robust and determined and that is what you would expect in a home secretary.

“I’ve never seen her be anything other than courteous and professional in all the work that I’ve done with her.”

Home Secretary Priti Patel
REUTERS

Asked if he thought she would be cleared of the allegations, he added: “There’s a process and I’m not going to prejudge that.”

Former international trade secretary Liam Fox tweeted: “I have worked with [Ms Patel] for almost 20 years. In that time I have always known her to be courteous, diligent and fair.”

The BBC has reported that a former aide received a £25,000 government pay-out after a threatened lawsuit in which the then employment minister Ms Patel was named.

Legal correspondence alleges the woman took an overdose of prescription medicine following the alleged incident in 2015.

Labour MPs have called for Ms Patel to step down
PA

Labour MPs have called for Ms Patel to step down as Home Secretary while bullying allegations are investigated.

Shadow home secretary Diane Abbott told BBC’s Radio 4 Today: “We want a genuinely independent inquiry... to restore confidence in the respect that the Government has for civil servants.”

She said if the allegations are true they would be a breach of the ministerial code and added: “You can’t have a government that’s at war with its civil service. It’s just not sustainable.”

Ms Patel has previously denied mistreating staff and Mr Johnson said he “absolutely” has confidence in his Home Secretary.

Announcing the inquiry, Michael Gove told the Commons: “The Home Secretary absolutely rejects those allegations.

“The Prime Minister has expressed his full confidence in her and having worked closely with the Home Secretary over a number of years, I have the highest regard for her. She is a superb minister doing a great job.”

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