The top Home Office mandarin who quit after accusing Priti Patel of a “vicious and orchestrated briefing campaign” against him has been vindicated in an out of court settlement.
Sir Philip Rutnam, who quit as the Home Office’s permanent secretary last year, said the UK government had settled claims he brought against them which were due to be heard in an employment tribunal in September.
Patel stayed on as Home Secretary despite an inquiry finding she had breached the Ministerial Code in a move that could have implications for Nicola Sturgeon if she is found to have breached the rules for Ministers in relation to the Alex Salmond saga.
Boris Johnson controversially backed Patel, ignoring the conclusions of an internal investigation which concluded the Home Secretary had breached the Code and he urged Conservative MPs to “form a square around the Pritster”. Patel has alway denied claims that she bullied staff.
Now the government has settled a claim brought by Sir Philip, who resigned and lodged an unfair dismissal claim.
The former Home Office permanent secretary said in his statement: “I am pleased to say that the Government has today settled the claims that I brought against them and which were due to be heard in an employment tribunal in September.
“I have received excellent support during this process and I would like to express warm thanks to the FDA and to my legal team,. I also want to record my appreciation and thanks to the many individuals, known and unknown to me, who have expressed their support throughout."
The senior civil service trade union, the First Division Association, is continuing to pursue in separate proceedings the wider issues that have been raised by the case.
The Government said it “regrets the circumstances surrounding Sir Philip’s resignation”.
In a statement posted online, the Government said: “Sir Philip Rutnam resigned from his post as permanent secretary of the Home Office on February 29 2020 and subsequently began legal proceedings against the Home Office.
“The then cabinet secretary wrote to Sir Philip when he resigned. This letter recognises his devoted public service and excellent contribution; the commitment and dedication with which he approached his senior leadership roles and the way in which his conduct upheld the values inherent in public service.
A Home Office spokesman said: “The Government and Sir Philip’s representatives have jointly concluded that it is in both parties’ best interests to reach a settlement at this stage rather than continuing to prepare for an employment tribunal.
“The Government does not accept liability in this matter and it was right that the Government defended the case.”
