The Home Office’s top civil servant has reported quit after a “campaign against him”.
Sir Philip Rutnam said there had been an orchestrated campaign against him, and told the
BBC that he planned to sue the government for constructive dismissal.
In a statement published via the senior public servants’ union, the FDA, Rutnam said he had made the decision “with great regret after a career of 33 years”.
“In the last 10 days I have been the target of a vicious and orchestrated briefing campaign,” he added.
“It has been alleged that I have briefed the media against the home secretary.
“This along with many other claims is completely false.”Sir Philip Rutnam’s statement in full: pic.twitter.com/aKQXicFeqp— FDA union (@FDA_union) February 29, 2020He continued: “The home secretary categorically denied any involvement in this campaign to the Cabinet Office.
“I regret I do not believe her. She has not made the effort I would expect to dissociate herself from the comments.
“Even despite this campaign I was willing to effect a reconciliation with the home secretary.
“But despite my efforts to engage with her, Priti Patel has made no effort to engage with me to discuss this.
“I believe these events give me very strong grounds to claim constructive, unfair dismissal and I will be pursuing that claim in the courts.”
On Thursday, HuffPost
UK revealed that home secretary Priti Patel had attempted to
fire Andy Tighe, one of her most senior officials on
Christmas Eve, and asked Rutman to deliver the news.
Rutnam refused to do so, believing it too cruel to effectively sack his colleague on Christmas Eve, HuffPost UK understands.Rutnam’s refusal to carry out Patel’s orders is said to be one of the factors that has led to a breakdown in their relationship.
Relations between the pair were said to have deteriorated to such a level that Patel has blacklisted her permanent secretary’s staff and is cutting them out of regular day-to-day meetings.
Prior to Rutnam’s resignations there had been reports that Patel had demanded his removal. Responding to Rutnam’s resignation, Dave Penman, general secretary of the FDA, said it “demonstrates once again the destructive consequences of anonymous briefings against public servants who are unable to publicly defend themselves,” and called on
Boris Johnson to “put a stop to this behaviour”.
He added: “This cowardly practice is not only ruining lives and careers, but at a time when the Home Office is being tasked with delivering a demanding government agenda on
immigration, and preparing for a public health emergency, it has diverted energy and resource in to responding to unfounded accusations from sources claiming to be allies of the Home Secretary.
“The FDA has supported Sir Philip throughout this period and will continue to support him in his claim for constructive dismissal.
“He had a choice to resign and go quietly with financial compensation. Instead he has chosen to speak out against the attacks on public servants.
“I know many thousands of his colleagues will recognise the courage and integrity he is showing in doing so and will applaud his decision.
“The Home Office now needs to find new leadership at a time when it needs stability.
“Those who engage in anonymous briefings need to bear the responsibility for this destructive behaviour.
“Only the prime minister can put a stop to this behaviour and unless he does so, he will have to accept his own responsibility for the consequences.”HuffPost UK has contacted the Cabinet Office for comment. Related... Exclusive: Priti Patel Tried To Oust Senior Official On Christmas Eve Boris Johnson Has 'Full Confidence' In Priti Patel Despite Bullying Claims