Cabinet secretary rebukes civil servants and ministers for ‘briefings and leaks’ after Priti Patel allegations

The cabinet secretary has rebuked civil servants and ministers for “unattributable briefings and leaks”, in a bid to settle the feuding surrounding Priti Patel.

In a highly unusual email to all staff, Sir Mark Sedwill said “good government” depended on politicians, their aides and officials being able to operate with “candour, confidentiality and courtesy”.

He wrote: “Civil servants should at all times be confident that they can give the honest, impartial and objective advice on which ministers can rely.

“Both should be confident that this advice, and any debate that surrounds it, will remain private.”

The intervention – which follows a claim, fiercely denied, that MI5 withholds intelligence from the home secretary because it does not trust her – was a clear reprimand to leaking civil servants.

Ms Patel is said to be “absolutely livid” about recent allegations, including that she is a bully who is trying to oust the permanent secretary at the Home Office, Sir Philip Rutnam.

However, Sir Mark’s message could also be read as a ticking off for ministers and their aides, after a report that Boris Johnson has drawn up a “hitlist” of three permanent secretaries.

Earlier, the prime minister’s official spokesperson insisted he had “full confidence” in the home secretary and “the vital work she is doing to make our streets safer and to take back control of the UK’s borders”.

However, asked if the PM had similar faith in Sir Philip, the spokesperson said only: “The prime minister has full confidence in the civil service which is working very hard to deliver on the government’s priorities.”

Ms Patel was said to be demanding a leak inquiry into the claims against her, although Cabinet Office sources said no request had been received.

James Brokenshire, the security minister, backed his boss, telling Sky News: “I don’t accept those assertions that have been seen in the press about the home secretary.

“Yes, she is demanding, but in that role you have to be because you are dealing with some of the most sensitive, some of the most challenging things that you have to deal with across government.”

And Theresa Villiers, the former environment secretary, pointed to misogyny, telling BBC Radio 4: “I’m sick of spiteful briefings against women in high public office.

“It happens again and again and I don’t believe these allegations against Priti Patel. I think she’s a highly effective home secretary.”

The bullying allegations surfaced after a senior Home Office official collapsed following what was described as a “heated” meeting with Ms Patel.

Following the MI5 claim, a security service source took the almost-unprecedented step of insisting it was wrong to say information was being withheld from her.

“Reports suggesting that the home secretary and MI5 do not have a strong working relationship are simply untrue,” the source said.

“The home secretary is briefed daily on intelligence matters in exactly the same way as any previous post holder. No information is being withheld.”

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