Priti Patel could have to give evidence under oath as third bullying claim erupts

Priti Patel could be forced to give evidence under oath to an employment tribunal, it has emerged as a third shock bullying claim erupts against the Home Secretary.

Ms Patel is now facing allegations of bullying from staff in three separate government departments - the Home Office, Department for Work and Pensions and Department for International Development.

She denies bullying and allies have accused "disturbing dark forces" of trying to get her sacked.

Claims began at the Home Office where her most senior civil servant, Sir Philip Rutnam, has resigned and vowed to sue for constructive dismissal. Then it emerged a DWP staffer, who allegedly took an overdose after being bullied by Ms Patel as Employment Minister, was given a £25,000 payout.

Last night the third claim emerged, this time at DFID when she was aid minister. Reported by the BBC, Sun and Times, it is claimed she "repeatedly harassed and belittled" her private secretary so badly that he signed off with stress.

The senior staffer signed off after six months of alleged abuse and asked to be moved, The Sun said.

A senior staffer signed off after six months of alleged abuse and asked to be moved, The Sun said (Reuters)

The number and spread of allegations - all denied by Ms Patel - could prove decisive when a Cabinet Office inquiry seeks to establish whether the Cabinet minister broke the Ministerial Code on ethics.

Last night it was confirmed Sir Philip - who refused a payout from the Home Office - has taken the first step towards bringing an employment tribunal.

His union, the FDA, has lodged a formal complaint with the mediation service ACAS.

Crucially, the legal papers name Ms Patel personally among the respondents to the case - meaning if the case proceeds to a tribunal, she could be called to give evidence under oath.

If she refuses, and the tribunal judge decides she has "relevant" evidence to give, she could be issued with a "witness order" compelling her to attend the hearing.

Failure to comply with a witness order, without a reasonable excuse, is a criminal offence.

It is possible Ms Patel wouldn't be asked to appear before a tribunal, but an ally of Sir Philip told the Mirror: "She's a central protagonist in all this. It's almost impossible to imagine this wouldn't be the case."

Sir Philip Rutnam has lodged papers in the first step to an employment tribunal (PA)

Last night's claims allege Ms Patel bullied staff in her private office shortly before she was sacked as Secretary of State for International Development in 2017 after she made an unauthorised trip to Israel.

A senior member of that department is understood to have raised concerns of a raft of allegations to the Cabinet Office shortly after Ms Patel left her post in case she returned to government later, according to BBC's Newsnight.

The programme described the nature of the accusations as similar to those already alleged to have happened in the Home Office and DWP - including humiliating civil servants in front of others.

The PM has asked the Cabinet Office to “establish the facts” over allegations Ms Patel broke the ministerial code in her dealings with several officials. However, she has been defended by PM Boris Johnson and Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove .

Labour's Diane Abbott called for the Tory minister to stand down while the probe is carried out.

But a spokesperson for the Home Office told BBC Newsnight Ms Patel "categorically rejects all of these allegations".

A Tory source told the programme: "What we are seeing is a concerted effort by certain sections of the Civil Service to undermine a Home Secretary trying to deliver what people want on crime and immigration.

"It is deeply disturbing that dark forces are trying to influence the findings of a Cabinet Office inquiry."

Last night Ms Patel expressed her "regret" at the decision of Sir Philip to quit and urged staff in the Home Office to come together as "one team".

In a joint email to staff written with Sir Philip's interim successor Shona Dunn, she insisted they cared about the wellbeing of all employees.

They expressed their gratitude to the staff for their continuing hard work and "commitment to deliver the Government's priorities".

"We both deeply value the work that every person in this department does and care about the well-being of all our staff. It is therefore a time for us all to come together as one team," they wrote.

Asked to comment on the new allegations, the Department for International Development issued a statement in the name of "a government spokesperson", which said: "All ministers are subject to the Ministerial code. We do not comment on individual personnel matters.”