Refusal to publish Priti Patel bullying report is undermining public trust, watchdog warns Boris Johnson
Failure to investigate Robert Jenrick – who unlawfully approving housing development to benefit a Tory donor – also strongly criticised
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Your support makes all the difference.Public trust is being undermined by Boris Johnson’s refusal to publish the report into bullying allegations against Priti Patel, his own adviser is warning.
The failure to properly investigate Robert Jenrick – who admitted unlawfully approving a major housing development in a way that benefitted a Tory donor – is also strongly criticised.
Lord Evans, the prime minister’s adviser on standards in public life, said the public was left wondering “whether there was something here or whether there wasn't”.
“When you have got these allegations that have not really been put to bed, then it's easy to say they've just been brushed over and I don't think that's ideal for public trust and public standards,” he warned.
The former head of MI5 spoke out amid growing criticism that the report into a “tsunami” of bullying allegations against the Home Secretary is still gathering dust, after eight months.
She is being investigated under the “ministerial code” – with the prime minister the “arbiter” – and his new Cabinet Secretary admitted there is no requirement to ever release the findings.
In July, it was reported that Helen MacNamara, the senior civil servant leading the inquiry, was refusing to bow to Downing Street’s demand to clear Ms Patel of all charges.
Dave Penman, the head of the civil servants’ union, has condemned a process “determined in secret, alone by a prime minister who has already pledged his allegiance to the minister in advance”.
Now Lord Evans of Weardale has echoed that criticism, telling The Times: “On the one hand, we look to the prime minister to uphold standards across government and, on the other hand, they are fighting a political battle and a media battle.
“There is an argument that says it would be better for the investigation to be instigated independently and then when the facts are known for the prime minister at that point to be able to make a decision on what needs to be done, if anything.”
On the Patel allegations, which she denies, the standards’ chief said: “The Cabinet Office has done some form of investigation. It has not been published so it is very difficult to know whether there was something here or whether there wasn't.”
He added: “The same applies in the allegations regarding Robert Jenrick. The decision was taken that those did not need to be further investigated.
“I am not calling what the facts are because I don't know, but nor does anybody else, because there hasn't been an investigation.”
The prime minister stood by Mr Jenrick, despite him attempting to overrule planning inspectors to approve a development championed by Richard Desmond
The Communities Secretary had sat next to the property developer and Tory donor at a fundraising dinner and kept in contact with him.
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