The U.K.’s top civil servant in the Home Office, Philip Rutnam, resigned on Saturday and said he would pursue a claim against the government for constructive dismissal.
“In the last 10 days, I have been the target of a vicious and orchestrated briefing campaign,” Rutnam said in a statement published by the BBC. “It has been alleged that I have briefed the media against the home secretary. This — along with many other claims — is completely false.”
The departure follows reports of severe tensions at the immigration department between Rutnam and Home Secretary Priti Patel, amid suggestions that Patel mistreated and bullied officials — allegations she has denied.
In his statement Saturday, Rutnam said: “I have received allegations that her conduct has included shouting and swearing, belittling people, making unreasonable and repeated demands — behaviour that created fear and that needed some bravery to call out.”
His resignation, after a career of more then thirty years in civil service, comes less then a week after which the Home Office last Sunday issued a joint statement from Patel and Rutnam suggesting relations between the pair were positive.
“The home secretary and permanent secretary are deeply concerned about the number of false allegations appearing in the media,” a spokesperson said at the time. “They are focused on delivering on the Home Office’s hugely important agenda.”