Mr Rutnam said he would take the Government to court after making allegations that Home Secretary Priti Patel had been “shouting a screaming” at Home Office personnel. The most senior civil servant at the Home Office Sir Philip Rutnam has levelled bullying claims at Priti Patel. According to the BBC, Sir Philip, the permanent secretary at the Home Office, intends to sue the government.

In a statement given to BBC News, Sir Philip said: “In the last 10 days, I have been the target of a vicious and orchestrated briefing campaign.”

He said allegations he had briefed the media against the home secretary was one of many “completely false” claims against him.

“The home secretary categorically denied any involvement in this campaign to the Cabinet Office.”

He added: “I regret I do not believe her. She has not made the efforts I would expect to dissociate herself from the comments.”

These claims have been vehemently rejected by Priti Patel.

But, Sir Philip added: “Even despite this campaign I was willing to effect a reconciliation with the Home Secretary.

“But despite my efforts to engage with her, Priti Patel has made no effort to engage with me to discuss this.

“I believe these events give me very strong grounds to claim constructive, unfair dismissal and I will be pursuing that claim in the courts.”

The annoucnment comes after reports of tensions between Sir Philip and Home Secretary Priti Patel, including claims she mistreated officials, which she has denied.

BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg said such a move was “highly unusual”.

Sir Philip said he believed his experience was “extreme” but part of a “wider pattern” in government.

It comes days after the home secretary and Sir Philip released a joint statement saying they were “deeply concerned” by various “false allegations” made about Ms Patel.

more to follow…

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