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11:49 EDT, 27 April 2021
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A civil servants union has won the right to challenge Boris Johnson in High Court after he backed Priti Patel in the bullying row.
The Association of First Division Civil Servants (FDA) launched judicial review proceedings in February over the Prime Minister s decision to disregard the findings of his adviser on ministerial standards.
Sir Alex Allan left his advisory role in Downing Street when Mr Johnson decided Ms Patel did not breach the rules, even after she was found to have bullied staff.
In February Ms Patel s permanent secretary Sir Philip Rutman resigned, claiming there had been a vicious and orchestrated campaign against him. He said he intended to sue the Government for constructive dismissal.
An inquiry last November found Patel had bullied a number of Home Office civil servants, including Rutnam.
In a statement today, Rutnam said: “I have received excellent support during this process and I would like to express warm thanks to the FDA [union for civil servants] and to my legal team, Slater and Gordon and Gavin Mansfield QC.
“I also want to record my appreciation and thanks to the many individuals, known and unknown to me, who have expressed their support throughout.
“This settlement resolves my own case. The FDA is continuing to pursue in separate proceedings the wider issues that have been raised.
The Government has paid out substantial damages to a former senior civil servant who accused Priti Patel of bullying, it was revealed today.
Sir Philip Rutnam, who quit as the Home Office s permanent secretary after accusing the Home Secretary of a vicious and orchestrated briefing campaign against him, said he was pleased his claim for constructive dismissal had been settled.
The career mandarin quit in February last year after using a live television appearance to accuse Ms Patel of shouting and swearing, belittling people, making unreasonable and repeated demands . Ms Patel was allowed to remain in her post after an internal investigation last November when the Prime Minister decided her actions did not warrant being sacked.
Former top Home Office civil servant Sir Philip Rutnam has settled his employment tribunal claim after launching legal action against Priti Patel.
The department’s ex-permanent secretary began proceedings against the Home Secretary last year after quitting his post in February amid allegations of her bullying behaviour.
In a statement via the FDA Union on Thursday, he said: “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, Slater and Gordon and Gavin Mansfield QC.