Should Priti Patel be sacked?

[Ianno87]

This isn't even the first time she's broken the ministerial code. That ought to be absolutely unforgiveable.

Perhaps Boris is merely keeping his enemies close...

 

[Typhoon]

Also, saying“I’m sorry that my behaviour has upset people” and saying it’s “completely unintentional” is not really an apology at all.

If shouting and swearing at people is "completely unintentional" then I would suggest that Ms Patel seeks medical help.

I also find it hilarious that it is currently Anti-Bullying Week.

I had missed that. I hope that Mr Johnson had too; that would be the ultimate insult.

 

[birchesgreen]

Well nothing will happen to her, bullies prosper despite what we might kid ourselves. Maybe if enough of the silent majority feel enough distaste and it leads to lower poll ratings it might lead Johnson to bin her later but i suspect it will be forgotten about in a day or so.

 

[C J Snarzell]

To answer the key question - I would say 'yes', she needed to be removed.

Having been in a disciplined organisation of the police for 15 years of my life, bullying and inappropriate behaviour towards subordinate staff is not tolerated. I once remember an Inspector went too far in reprimanding a constable and the latter put in a grievance that was upheld. The Inspector subsequently ended up with a written warning on his personnel file.

That was one incident, yet Priti Patel's conduct appears to have been a prolonged pattern of behaviour taking place over a period of time.

What makes this whole affair smack in my face is that Patel is in charge of British policing! As far as I'm concerned it's like having one rule for one and another rule for another.

As a senior leader - Priti Patel is there to set an example and for her to be allowed to continue in her present role is kind of an insult to rank and file police officers who have been disciplined for much less.

Yet again Boris Johnson amazes me! This man is making some very bad decisions and after the Cummings affair he should have at least had the balls to robustly oust a unprofessional member of staff. This can only be yet another nail in the coffin for his time as PM.

CJ

 

[SuspectUsual]

I’ve just watched her so called apology. It’s bloody ridiculous

Literally in the same breath as apologising, she tries to justify it by saying how deeply challenging the work is. She also says she wasn’t made aware of the impact she was having on people. Well guess what? People not complaining is a symptom when you’ve created a culture of fear and intimidation. The fact that she feels she needed to be told that screaming and swearing wasn’t acceptable for a minister is preposterous.

But nothing will change

 

[DarloRich]

Perhaps Boris is merely keeping his enemies close...

Exactly

Having been in a disciplined organisation of the police for 15 years of my life, bullying and inappropriate behaviour towards subordinate staff is not tolerated. I once remember an Inspector went too far in reprimanding a constable and the latter put in a grievance that was upheld. The Inspector subsequently ended up with a written warning on his personnel file.

The rules are for the little people not for the great people.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 20 Nov 2020 ==

Yet again Boris Johnson amazes me!

Why - his uselessness, lack of ethics and absent leadership skills was obvious to anyone with eyes. Perhaps you, like many, fell for the bumbling idiot routine.

 

[RichT54]

Sir Philip Rutnam (who quit as permanent secretary at the Home Office in February, after complaining about Ms Patel's conduct) is challenging Patel's claim that the "issues were not pointed out" to her.

Furthermore, he maintains that Ms Patel was "advised" on a number of occasions about the need to treat staff with respect, despite the report saying she had been "unaware" of her conduct.
"As early as August 2019, the month after her appointment, she was advised that she must not shout and swear at staff.
"I advised her on a number of further occasions between September 2019 and February 2020 about the need to treat staff with respect."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-55015493

 

[DarloRich]

Sir Philip Rutnam (who quit as permanent secretary at the Home Office in February, after complaining about Ms Patel's conduct) is challenging Patel's claim that the "issues were not pointed out" to her.

Of course she was told. But they lie anyway knowing their base wont care and the media will let them.

 

[alex397]

A precedent has been set after Dominic Cummings was able to keep his job after his antics during the first lockdown.

 

[Darandio]

A precedent has been set after Dominic Cummings was able to keep his job after his antics during the first lockdown.

Because Boris said that matter was closed and instructed others not to talk about it. Next week he'll be asked about Patel and it will be the same response, matter closed.

 

[brad465]

I also find it hilarious that it is currently Anti-Bullying Week.

Yes, like with a lot of incidents this year, you couldn't make it up.

 

[DarloRich]

Because Boris said that matter was closed and instructed others not to talk about it. Next week he'll be asked about Patel and it will be the same response, matter closed.

Of course. it is all so predictable

 

[XAM2175]

we are all British first and foremost

Given how she's been handling the immigration portfolio I feel fairly confident in saying that that is not at all her view on the matter.

 

[C J Snarzell]

A precedent has been set after Dominic Cummings was able to keep his job after his antics during the first lockdown.

Like Cummings, Patel has become untenable in her role. Most of us knew Cummings should have been given his marching orders in May, but it took six months for him to leave with his tail between his legs.

I suspect this will be a similar scenario with Patel - alot of angry government staff will refuse to let the matter drop and she'll probably step down anyway in a few months - Boris will yet again end up with egg on his face.

CJ

 

[Typhoon]

Perhaps Boris is merely keeping his enemies close...

It didn't work out well for Mrs May when she appointed a Foreign Secretary.
And I don't suppose the Prime Minister's support will in any way dampen her ambition.

Why - his uselessness, lack of ethics and absent leadership skills was obvious to anyone with eyes. Perhaps you, like many, fell for the bumbling idiot routine.

Every time I;m tempted to think that he's not as bad as all that, I remember the Newsnight interview with Eddie Mair

(Mair is a real loss to the BBC.)

 

[brad465]

Part of the reason I've seen some suggest for the reason we have such incompetent ministers, including Patel, is after over a decade in power the Tories are running out of options; most of the competent figures have either already been in cabinet and moved on or were booted out of the party last year, while new MPs from the last election don't have much experience, and even if they did those in red wall seats are at risk of losing next time.

If Patel goes her replacement will be at least as equally incompetent, while Johnson can't bring in something more competent as they could very easily undermine him.

 

[hst43102]

Given how she's been handling the immigration portfolio I feel fairly confident in saying that that is not at all her view on the matter.

I didn't say that was her view. That's my view when people start claiming they feel "represented" just because some MP is of the same ethnic minority as them.

 

[DarloRich]

Every time I;m tempted to think that he's not as bad as all that, I remember the Newsnight interview with Eddie Mair

Unfit for high office. Surrounded by people unfit for high office.

 

[XAM2175]

I didn't say that was her view. That's my view when people start claiming they feel "represented" just because some MP is of the same ethnic minority as them.

Ah, my apologies.

 

[birchesgreen]

Seems like the Tories have turned workplace bullying into another culture war, with us or against us thing. Just like starving children.

 

[Typhoon]

Part of the reason I've seen some suggest for the reason we have such incompetent ministers, including Patel, is after over a decade in power the Tories are running out of options; most of the competent figures have either already been in cabinet and moved on or were booted out of the party last year, while new MPs from the last election don't have much experience, and even if they did those in red wall seats are at risk of losing next time.

I often listen to Any Questions, the Conservative representative is often a junior minister. They are almost invariably awful. They seem incapable of constricting an argument, it is just something like 'the government has spend this much money on whatever'. They make even the most ineffective opposition representatives seem OK. Yesterday it was Jeremy Hunt and the difference was notable, decent arguments. Some of the new intake might be OK but from what I have seen and heard so far a fair few have shown themselves to be shallow and self-centred.

Unfit for high office. Surrounded by people unfit for high office.

In Johnson's case I would delete 'high'. The worst Foreign Secretary in living memory and a Mayor of London who was fortunate to inherit some decent schemes from his predecessor and that the Olympics fell into his lap, had decent staff and wasted an awful lot of money on pointless projects. The only thing he is good at is self publicity.

I would say that Priti Patel is much in the same mold. Her only notable contribution to DWP seems to be the £25,000 settlement following a claim against unfair dismissal on grounds that included race and disability. She was then promoted to head the Department of International Relations (some good work relating to disease control, if rather tainted, to give her due) but ultimately forced to resign following her holiday in Israel (12 clandestine meetings with officials in 13 days, some holiday). Now the Home Office where (to quote a former colleague) she talks a good fight. All this after a career in public relations!! Surely she is living evidence that the Peter Principle is not always true.

Some people are promoted beyond their level of competence, but keep getting promoted.

 

[hst43102]

Ah, my apologies.

No problem at all.

 

[C J Snarzell]

I often listen to Any Questions, the Conservative representative is often a junior minister. They are almost invariably awful. They seem incapable of constricting an argument, it is just something like 'the government has spend this much money on whatever'. They make even the most ineffective opposition representatives seem OK. Yesterday it was Jeremy Hunt and the difference was notable, decent arguments. Some of the new intake might be OK but from what I have seen and heard so far a fair few have shown themselves to be shallow and self-centred.


In Johnson's case I would delete 'high'. The worst Foreign Secretary in living memory and a Mayor of London who was fortunate to inherit some decent schemes from his predecessor and that the Olympics fell into his lap, had decent staff and wasted an awful lot of money on pointless projects. The only thing he is good at is self publicity.

I'd say Andy Burnham beats Boris Johnson in the incompetence and self publicity stakes.

CJ

 

[Domh245]

It would seem she's now about to be sacked for incompetence in a coming reshuffle

Priti Patel faces axe in reshuffle over ‘competence’

Boris Johnson is set to axe Priti Patel as home secretary in his next reshuffle amid questions in Downing Street over her “competence” — as it emerged that a re

www.thetimes.co.uk

Boris Johnson is set to axe Priti Patel as home secretary in his next reshuffle amid questions in Downing Street over her “competence” — as it emerged that a report into her conduct found that she told civil servants they were “f***ing useless”.

The prime minister circled the wagons to protect Patel last week, rejecting an official finding that she had bullied officials and broken the ministerial code of conduct.

But multiple sources say he has had conversations about replacing her as home secretary when he recasts ****his cabinet in the New Year.

Kit Malthouse, the policing minister who was Johnson’s deputy mayor for policing in London and is a confidant of the PM, is favourite to take over the job, with Michael Gove and Dominic Raab also in the frame. Patel, 48, who is popular with the Tory grassroots, is tipped to be made party chairwoman.

Details of Johnson’s thinking emerged as those who have read the report into her conduct say it recounts multiple examples of “shouting, screaming and swearing”.

“She kept telling civil servants they were fing useless,” a source said. “She would storm out of her office and say: ‘Why is everyone so fing useless?’ She would tell officials their work was f***ing useless?”

Despite telling MPs last week to “form a square around the Prittster”, insiders say the prime minister has tired of Patel’s repeated failure to get a grip on the flow of asylum seekers across the Channel.

“The view of the political operation in No 10 was always that she should be protected,” a senior Tory said. “But there is also a view that she should be reshuffled on competence grounds. There is continual frustration that the Home Office has not got a grip on things, the small boats in particular.”****

The insider said Johnson was “impressed” by Malthouse’s grasp of policy and others say he has acted as a personal support to Johnson since he fell ill with the virus in April.

“Kit sees him to talk policy but they end up sitting in the garden putting the world to rights,” one friend said.

A second official described Patel as “ineffective” and said it would be “sensible” to move her to another post.

Patel’s camp did not deny that she used the words “f***ing useless” but insisted her comments were never directed “at individuals”.

“People in real life do not carry on as if everything is like an Enid Blyton novel and sometimes things go wrong and people say things out of frustration that they would not say to their mother,” said an ally of the home secretary.

Patel has told friends she has never suffered so much sexism and racism as she did in the Home Office, where she clashed with mandarins over borders. “Priti has worked in the private sector in FTSE 100 companies but the racism and misogyny she has endured at the Home Office has been the worst of her career,” said one friend.

Classic Boris really - expend a lot of political capital defending the indefensible and then cave a few months later. Not entirely wasted I suppose if she finds her way into party chair although it would cement their reputation as a party of bullies

 

[daodao]

The answer to the OP is NO. The real problem is the vile and incompetent TrumpBritain; once he goes, she will be gone.

 

[kermit]

No, Priti Patel should not be sacked. There should be no need, she should have resigned.

 

[dosxuk]

Part of the reason I've seen some suggest for the reason we have such incompetent ministers, including Patel, is after over a decade in power the Tories are running out of options; most of the competent figures have either already been in cabinet and moved on or were booted out of the party last year, while new MPs from the last election don't have much experience, and even if they did those in red wall seats are at risk of losing next time.

It's almost like something big happened which meant that ability to do your job came second to loyalty to the PM (and advisors).

 

[Ianno87]

It's almost like something big happened which meant that ability to do your job came second to loyalty to the PM (and advisors).

And loyalty to something that has no sound economic or rational logic or evidence behind it - Brex*t.

Knowing this, why are we surprised that the resulting cabinet is not competent?

 

[C J Snarzell]

There seems to be a level of arrogance and self importance with politians.

Margaret Ferrier is a prime example. She should have at least apologised and resigned with immediate affect - however she's refused to go.

Does anyone know what's happened with the Ferrier matter?

CJ

 

[PHILIPE]

There seems to be a level of arrogance and self importance with politians.

Margaret Ferrier is a prime example. She should have at least apologised and resigned with immediate affect - however she's refused to go.

Does anyone know what's happened with the Ferrier matter?

CJ

I believe the police are still investigating the matter.