The Shadow Home Secretary, Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, has today written to the Home Secretary demanding answers on the cost to the taxpayer of her unacceptable behaviour, following the Government’s announcement that it was paying Sir Philip Rutnam £370,000 over alleged bullying by the Rt Hon Priti Patel MP.
The payout follows the publication of the findings of Sir Alex Allan’s investigation into allegations of misconduct by the Home Secretary back in November 2020. The Government initially suppressed the report for 8 months, during which time the Mr Thomas-Symonds made repeated calls for its release.
The full letter to the Home Secretary may be read below. In a separate statement, the Shadow Home Secretary said:
“Taxpayers will be appalled at having to pick up the bill for the Home Secretary’s unacceptable behaviour.
“The Home Secretary still has very serious questions to answer about her conduct and the FDA union’s legal case continues.
“The Prime Minister has shown terrible judgement. It can’t be right that his adviser on Ministerial Standards resigned when he found that the Home Secretary bullied colleagues, while the Home Secretary herself remained in post.”