Woes of the Home Secretary Priti Patel

Lutyens London: A View from the Westminster Bubble

In an unprecedented move, the Permanent Secretary of the Home Office, Sir Philip Rutnam resigned last week making a statement to the BBC (right on time before the Sunday columnists finalised their pieces for the next day’s papers) accusing the Home Secretary Priti Patel of bullying and being abusive not only to him but also to the wider staff at the Home Office. Refusing a financial settlement from the Cabinet Office, Sir Philip will be taking the government to court citing “constructive dismissal.”
 
Since then, other reports of bullying by the Home Secretary in her previous stints as minister, in other government departments have surfaced. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has backed his Home Secretary although he has instructed the Cabinet office to ascertain facts around the issues of ministerial misconduct. The Conservatives have rallied around the embattled Home Secretary, while the Labour party and other opposition parties along with the “left” media have already judged Priti Patel of being vicious and guilty.
 
However, there is a tinge of hypocrisy in how this is being played out in an openly partisan basis.
 
Usually, publications such as the Guardian and its columnists would throw in their support behind a non-public school-educated woman of colour, against the accusations of a public school and Oxbridge educated senior civil servant who is a Knight of the realm. However, Priti Patel is a Conservative Brexiteer and has no time to play the victim card of race or gender. Hence, she is ‘unworthy’ of the support from the liberal left. Dianne Abbott, the Shadow Home Secretary and other senior Labour figures have called for Patel’s removal from office. However, the conservatives have argued that mere allegations of this kind must not lead to a politician being removed from one of the great offices of the state.
 
This position exposes the Tories to criticisms of hypocrisy as well. The party’s opposition, which this columnist shares, to erstwhile Speaker of Commons John Bercow’s elevation to the House of Lords is supposedly based on the reports of bullying and abusing his staff. There are indeed serious allegations against the former Speaker, however, critics suggest that it was due to John Bercow’s role in blocking the expressed public will to exit the European Union in the last Parliament.
 
By all reports, Patel is a good Home Secretary focused on securing our borders and keeping our streets safe. She also enjoys the confidence of the Prime Minister and the Tory backbenches. However, bullying and abuse at the work place just as much as in the school playground are scourges that must be eradicated ruthlessly. Any minister facing those charges must be thoroughly investigated and if proven true should be sacked. Until then the minister in question must be allowed to serve the public, following the common legal maxim “innocent until proven guilty.”
 
That is exactly what Prime Minister Boris Johnson has done and it is time for all sides to respect the process and not prejudge the situation.
 
India Outbound
March 4, 2020
 
 

source https://indiaoutbound.org/woes-of-the-home-secretary-priti-patel/