Boris Johnson is coming under pressure to sack Home Secretary Priti Patel after an investigation concluded that she did break the ministerial code in a bullying row.
Labour has demanded full publication of an investigation into bullying claims surrounding the Home Secretary as cabinet colleagues closed ranks around her amid suggestions she will not be fired.
Patel has always denied claims of bullying and her spokesman said there have never been formal complaints against her.
The Cabinet Office launched an inquiry into allegations about her conduct after the Home Office’s top civil servant Sir Philip Rutman resigned in February.
Sir Philip alleged staff believed Patel “created fear” in the department.
The investigation, carried out by the Government’s independent adviser on standards, Sir Alex Allan, was completed over the summer and found she had breached the ministerial code.
But the report has been on the Prime Minister’s desk awaiting a decision since then.
Labour’s Shadow home secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds said suggestions that Johnson will not sack Patel was “tantamount to the Prime Minister condoning bullying.”
He said: “I think we need to see the full report, it needs to be published in full, line by line and the Home Secretary and the Prime Minister need to come to Parliament to answer questions because the revelation in recent days have been extraordinarily serious.
“I’m afraid this really does have all the hallmarks of a prime ministerial cover-up and raises questions about his judgment.
But Tory Health Secretary Matt Hancock told BBC that he felt “very proud” to serve in a cabinet with Priti Patel.
He said: “I think she’s doing an excellent job and is an excellent Home Secretary and really delivering on things that matter to people. In all the dealings I’ve ever had with her she’s been nothing but courteous.”
A minister found guilty of breaking code is usually expected to resign.
But according to the Financial Times Johnson will only issue the Cabinet Minister with a written warning rather than sack her
It said the PM intends to “fudge” the outcome of the inquiry, which has “robust criticisms” of Patel’s behaviour.
