Priti Patel ‘deeply concerned’ by ‘false’ bullying claims

London: Media reports that said the UK’s Home Secretary Priti Patel was distrusted by intelligence chiefs and bullied her staff have been dismissed as “false” by the government, it was revealed on Monday.

Officials have denied that the MI5 intelligence agency held back information from Patel, following allegations that officials lacked confidence in her abilities, the BBC reported. She has also been accused of trying to force out Philip Rutnam, the most senior civil servant in her Department. Both Patel and Rutnam were both said to be “deeply concerned” by the “false allegations”.

A spokesman for Patel and Rutnam said that the pair were focused on delivering their department’s “hugely important agenda” such as an overhaul of the immigration system, putting more police officers on the streets and combating terrorism. The spokesman’s statement comes after a source told the BBC there had been no animosity or “blazing rows” between Patel and Rutnam - who has been the Home Office’s permanent secretary since April 2017 - but they were simply “not the right fit”. (IANS)

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