The Labour leader seized on the revelation that Ms Patel has been accused of bullying staff at a third
government department.
“On each occasion, tens of thousands of pounds of hard-earned taxpayers’ money has been spaffed up the
wall to buy their silence,” Mr Corbyn alleged. Was the prime minister aware of these allegations and, if he
was, why did he appoint her?”
Mr Johnson swerved the question, saying: “The home secretary is doing an outstanding job. If there are
allegations, of course it is right that they should be properly investigated by the Cabinet Office and that is
what has happened.”
Later, the prime minister declined to say whether Ms Patel would be “expected to resign” if the inquiry –
led by the cabinet secretary, Mark Sedwill – finds that she has breached the ministerial code of conduct.
Instead, he said he would “take no lessons” from a Labour Party stained by the driving out of several MPs in
the antisemitism scandal, while insisting that he “loathed” bullying.
The dangers for Mr Johnson are rising, as the inquiry he has ordered will examine all complaints made
against Ms Patel in her various jobs. Furthermore, the staff who have attacked her behaviour at the
Department for International Development are reported to be ready to give evidence at Philip Rutnam’s
tribunal hearing.
One cabinet minister told the BBC’s Newsnight programme that the situation threatened to turn into
“Armageddon” for the prime minister – who may himself be required to give evidence.
Significantly, Mr Johnson stationed the home secretary alongside him on the Commons front bench and
said: “She is keeping this country safe ... She is bringing in a system to tackle our migration crisis.”
Following the exchange in parliament, Labour said civil servants from the Home Office and other
departments had approached Mr Corbyn’s office over the past 24 hours with new bullying allegations.
“These relate to Priti Patel and another former minister,” the Labour leader’s spokesperson said. “These are
bullying and harassment allegations from government staff.
“They simply build up the picture that has already accumulated over recent days,” they said, while declining
to reveal the details.
Earlier, a Home Office spokesperson said: “The home secretary categorically rejects all of these
allegations.”