The torrent of claims reinforces the need for a proper, independent, judge-led inquiry, not the one launched
by the Cabinet Office, headed by Michael Gove, who praised Patel in the Commons while announcing the
investigation. Its terms of reference remain murky. Gove implied it would look into claims about Patel at
other departments as well as the Home Office, but this has not been confirmed. It’s not even certain an
inquiry report will be published.
Ministers cannot claim to be determined to stamp out the bullying of parliamentary staff and yet remain
judge and jury when such allegations are made against fellow ministers. Nor should the fate of a minister
whose career hangs by a thread be decided on the basis of which side of the Brexit divide they were on.