AN investigation into allegations of bullying by Priti Patel must be published without delay, Labour has demanded.
The Financial Times said the probe would be finished “imminently” but Prime Minister Boris Johnson would only issue Patel with a written warning, rather than dismissing her from Cabinet.
Citing unnamed Whitehall officials, the paper said Johnson intends to “fudge” the outcome of the report which has “robust criticisms” of Patel’s behaviour.
Shadow home secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds said: “Reports that the Home Secretary is to receive a written warning for conduct in government are incredibly serious.
“The role of Home Secretary comes with huge levels of responsibility and trust. It is now vital that the full report is published without delay, so the public can have full confidence in the decision-making process.”
Dave Penman, general secretary of senior civil servants’ union the FDA, said: “In his foreword to the ministerial code, Boris Johnson said: ‘There must be no bullying and no harassment’.
“If, as is being suggested, substance has been found in some of the allegations against the Home Secretary, then the Prime Minister should have no choice but to conclude that the code has been breached.”
Penman said the Prime Minister should publish the report that he has sat on since summer and introduce a new independent complaints system.
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