Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Sir Philip Rutnam gets £340,000 payout over his claim for unfair dismissal: report

THE former Home Office chief Sir Philip Rutnam received £340,000 plus his legal costs over his claim for unfair dismissal as the government settled the case, reported the BBC.

Sources close to Sir Philip confirmed to BBC Radio 4 that he got the compensation.


The claims had been due to be heard at an employment tribunal this September.

In a statement issued via the FDA civil servants' union, which represents senior civil servants, Sir Philip said he was pleased by the settlement.

He quit the office amid bullying claims against home secretary Priti Patel, which she denied.

Sir Philip said that he had been the victim of a 'vicious and orchestrated' briefing campaign after trying to get Patel to change her behaviour.

He was earning more than £150,000 a year as Home Office permanent secretary.

The BBC report said that both the parties had jointly concluded that it is in both parties' best interests to reach a settlement at this stage.

"The government does not accept liability in this matter and it was right that the government defended the case," a spokesperson said.

Sir Philip's resignation led the Cabinet Office to launch an inquiry into whether Patel had broken the code governing ministers' behaviour.

Prime minister Boris Johnson's standards chief Sir Alex Allan's report found out that Patel's approach on occasions has amounted to behaviour that can be described as 'bullying in terms of the impact felt by individuals'.

But Johnson rejected the report and kept Patel in post. Sir Alex resigned in response.

Later, Patel apologised for her alleged behaviour, saying 'any upset I have caused was completely unintentional'.

The FDA union has launched legal action to try to get Johnson's decision overturned at the High Court.

Labour's shadow home secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds has written to Patel to ask how much taxpayers' money has been spent settling the case, the report added.

He also asked whether any other bullying cases have been opened by the Home Office since July 2019.

"This whole episode continues to raise serious questions about standards of behaviour, responsibility and leadership at the highest level of government. Patel still had very serious questions to answer about her conduct, and Johnson had shown terrible judgement," said Thomas-Symonds.

"It can't be right that his adviser on ministerial standards resigned when he found that the home secretary bullied colleagues, while the home secretary herself remained in post."

More For You

JD-Vance

'Our hope and our expectation is that this is not going to spiral into a broader regional war or, God forbid, a nuclear conflict,' Vance said on Thursday. (Photo: Getty Images)

JD Vance says US won't intervene in India-Pakistan conflict

US VICE PRESIDENT JD Vance said on Thursday that the United States wants India and Pakistan to de-escalate tensions but will not get involved if a conflict breaks out between the two countries.

"We want this thing to de-escalate as quickly as possible. We can't control these countries, though," Vance said during an interview on Fox News' The Story with Martha MacCallum.

Keep ReadingShow less
Bill Gates Vows to Donate Bulk of His Fortune by 2045

Gates explained that his new approach to giving accelerates his previous plan

Getty

Bill Gates to give away most of his wealth by 2045

Microsoft founder Bill Gates has announced his intention to give away 99% of his wealth by 2045, pledging to accelerate his charitable giving through his foundation.

In a blog post published on Thursday, 8 May 2025, Gates, 69, shared his plan to use the next two decades to distribute most of his vast fortune. He intends to wind down the operations of his foundation by 2045, a decision that marks an acceleration of his previous philanthropic goals.

Keep ReadingShow less
Vikram Doraiswami

Doraiswami gave interviews to several British media outlets on Thursday to outline India’s position on the current tensions with Pakistan.

ANI

India's response to Pahalgam attack was limited to terror targets: Vikram Doraiswami

INDIAs high commissioner to the UK, Vikram Doraiswami, said India’s response to last month’s terrorist attacks in Pahalgam was limited, targeted and aimed only at terror infrastructure. He said Pakistan has instead chosen to escalate the situation rather than take an “off-ramp” to end the crisis.

Doraiswami gave interviews to several British media outlets on Thursday to outline India’s position on the current tensions with Pakistan. Speaking to Sky News, he said the international community should urge Pakistan to take the opportunity to de-escalate.

Keep ReadingShow less
IPL-suspension-Getty

The decision to halt the T20 tournament came after Thursday's match in Dharamsala was abandoned. (Photo: Getty Images)

Getty Images

India suspends IPL over border tensions with Pakistan

THE Indian Premier League has been suspended indefinitely due to escalating border tensions between India and Pakistan, according to Indian media reports on Friday.

The decision to halt the T20 tournament came after Thursday's match in Dharamsala was abandoned. The city is located less than 200 kilometres from Jammu, where explosions were reported earlier in the day.

Keep ReadingShow less
Kashmir-strikes-Getty

A view of shops that is damaged due to cross-border shelling between India and Pakistan on the Line of Control in Uri, Jammu and Kashmir, on May 9, 2025. (Photo: Getty Images)

Getty Images

India says it repelled Pakistan drone, artillery attacks as tensions continue

INDIA said on Friday (9) it repelled multiple drone and artillery attacks launched by Pakistan overnight, as tensions continued following deadly cross-border violence this week. Islamabad denied launching any attacks, while both sides reported new casualties and damage.

"Pakistan Armed Forces launched multiple attacks using drones and other munitions along entire Western border on the intervening night of 08 and 09 May," the Indian army said in a statement. "The drone attacks were effectively repulsed and befitting reply was given."

Keep ReadingShow less