By Kelly Toomey-
An investigation commissioned eight months ago into allegations of bullying by Home Secretary Priti Patel is an ongoing process, according to the prime minister’s spokesperson.
The revelation comes after it was revealed that Boris Johnson has sat on the findings of a Government inquiry into alleged bullying by Home Secretary Priti Patel for months.
Lord Mark Sedwill, who was Cabinet Cecretary until September, confirmed that the report into bullying allegations levelled against Ms Patel had been with Mr Johnson since September. The prime minister has not commented publicly about the report, because Downing Street is still evaluating it.
A more cynical view on the silence from No 10 is that the content of the report from Downing Street’s perspective, is not for public consumption. However, Lord Sedwill suggested the full report might never be published because some interviews took place on the premise that they were “in confidence” and the people concerned did “not want their remarks to be completely on-the-record”.
“It is a decision in the end for the PM whether he publishes anything,” he said. The pressure for publication of the findings is mounting, but Downing Street may prefer to keep the intimate details private. Herein lies the irony of being in public office.
Privacy is no longer a legal right, except with regards the events behind close doors or which have no connection with one’s public office.
Probe Launch
The probe was launched after Sir Philip Rutnam quit as the Home Office’s top civil servant earlier this year and launched a claim of constructive dismissal and whistleblowing against Patel following what he called a “vicious and orchestrated campaign” against him.
A Downstreet spokesman said: “It’s an ongoing process.
“Once we are in a position to make public the PM’s conclusions then we will do so.”
Lord Sedwill who has had hostile clashes with Dominic Cummings warned that hostile briefings have become a “regrettable feature” of modern politics and are “detrimental” to the government’s performance.
“But as for the specifics and the stories I see in the press, I don’t really have any more insight than anyone else not directly involved.”
Addressing the issue of anonymous briefings in government, Lord Sedwill said: “As we’ve seen… only in the last week or so briefing against ministers, briefing against special advisers, briefing against other leading personalities involved or within government is a regrettable feature of modern political life and it is detrimental to good governance whoever it is at the wrong end of it.”
Lord Sedwill said both Theresa May and Mr Johnson were vocal in their support for the civil service during his time in the role, but went on: “There is a lack of discipline I’m afraid and people do indulge themselves and it’s going to take a shift in the consensus of the way politics operates in order for it to cease and us to return to a healthier means of operating.”
While he said it was not “irreversible” it had damaged trust, warning that individuals, including civil servants, may feel they cannot be “completely candid”.
A Cabinet Office investigation was launched in March over allegations that Ms Patel was aggressive and bullish in her dealings with colleagues and that she clashed with senior officials in three different departments. The result of the probe is yet to be revealed.
Sir Philip Rutnam, the former Home Office’s permanent secretary, quit earlier this year, accusing Ms Patel of a “vicious and orchestrated briefing campaign” against him and is claiming constructive dismissal at an employment tribunal.
Ms Patel has expressed concern at the “false” claims, and allies have described her as a “demanding” boss but not a bully.
Lord Sedwill was asked about when the report was submitted to the Prime Minister during his appearance in front of the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee.
Facts
He said: “I couldn’t tell you exactly, but the Cabinet Office, the proprietary and ethics team under me, were asked to establish the facts.
“The Prime Minister then consults his independent adviser on ministerial interests Alex Allan.
“And that process was certainly under way – it hadn’t concluded by the time I left, it was certainly under way.
“I think Alex had been in discussions with the Prime Minister, I don’t know the exact date of when that part of the process was submitted to the PM but it was under way, it was with him, as I understand it.”
Lord Sedwill suggested the full report might never be published as some interviews took place on the premise that they were “in confidence” and the people concerned did “not want their remarks to be completely on-the-record”.
“It is a decision in the end for the PM whether he publishes anything,” he added.
Cabinet Office Minister Lord True, responding to questions on the slow progress of the inquiry in the House of Lords earlier this month, said: “The Prime Minister will make any decision on the matter public once the process has concluded.