Priti Patel under investigation – as Tory MPs rally to her defence

Since Sir Philip Rutnam resigned as the Home Office permanent secretary, alleging that Priti Patel had created a climate of fear in the department, the Home Secretary has kept a low profile and made no public comment. Today the government were forced to formally respond to the claims thanks to an urgent question from Jeremy Corbyn. The Labour leader asked why the Prime Minister defended Patel over the claims and called her ‘fantastic’, when if true the allegations would ‘constitute a breach of the ministerial code’.

Speaking for the government, Michael Gove put in a passionate defence of his colleague. He praised Patel as someone he had always found to be civil and co-operative. He said that the government would ‘make no apology of having strong ministers in place’. However, he also revealed that Patel will be the subject of a government inquiry.