Top civil servant quits after Home Office row
The leading civil servant at the Home Office has resigned and launched a stinging attack on Home Secretary Priti Pate
After persistent reports of a major rift between them, Sir Philip Rutnam walked out with all guns blazing, accusing Ms Patel of orchestrating a "vicious" campaign against him, of lying about her involvement in it and of creating a climate of fear in her department.
His bombshell resignation led to calls from opposition MPs and the senior public servants' trade union for the Prime Minister to put a stop to what they claim is a campaign by his chief adviser Dominic Cummings to undermine the civil service.
It comes two weeks after Sajid Javid quit as Boris Johnson's Chancellor after the PM ordered him to fire his team of aides.
In his statement, Sir Philip said the campaign against him included "false" claims that he had briefed the media against the Home Secretary.
He said: "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."
Published: by Radio NewsHub