Home Office at war after staff accuse Priti Patel of bullying – The Times, Thetimes.co.uk

Priti Patel has attempted to oust her most senior civil servant after a toxic clash at the top of the Home Office.

(multiple) inside the department have accused the home secretary of bullying, belittling officials in meetings, making unreasonable demands and creating an “atmosphere of fear”.

Sir Mark Sedwill, the cabinet secretary, has been dragged into the row after Ms Patel demanded the removal of her permanent secretary, Sir Philip Rutnam. Sir Philip is understood to have raised concerns about Ms Patel’s behavior within the Cabinet Office. A senior Whitehall source said that the situation had become “completely unsustainable and was going to blow up”. A Home Office spokesman said there had been no “formal” complaints against Ms Patel.

Allies of the home secretary