THE Prime Minister has ruled Priti Patel didn’t breach the ministerial code after the publication of a report into bullying allegations against her.
Sir Alex Allan, the Prime Minister’s adviser on the ministerial code who wrote the report, has now resigned from his position after Boris Johnson expressed his full confidence in Patel.
Allan commented: "I recognise that it is for the Prime Minister to make a judgement on whether actions by a minister amount to a breach of the ministerial code.
"But I feel that it is right that I should now resign from my position as the Prime Minister's independent adviser on the code."
READ MORE: Call for bullying investigation into Priti Patel to be published
The probe found the Home Secretary could, “justifiably in some instances” feel “frustrated by the Home Office leadership’s lack of responsiveness”.
The report added: “The evidence is that this has manifested itself in forceful expression, including some occasions of shouting and swearing. This may not be done intentionally to cause upset, but that has been the effect on some individuals.”
He went on: “Her approach on occasions has amounted to behaviour that can be described as bullying in terms of the impact felt by individuals. To that extent her behaviour has been in breach of the Ministerial Code, even if unintentionally.
“This conclusion needs to be seen in context. There is no evidence that she was aware of the impact of her behaviour, and no feedback was given to her at the time.”
Allan concluded that he had noted “more positive behaviour” since issues were raised with her.
Johnson said he had full confidence in Patel and considers the matter to be closed.
Back in February the Home Office’s top civil servant quit, saying Patel had been mistreating staff by swearing and shouting. The Home Secretary has always denied this.
The investigation into the allegations was launched in March.
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