Rutnam s constructive dismissal payout did not have NDA attached, Home Office says
Reported six-figure sum not a result of Treasury U-turn on payout caps, perm sec Rycroft tells MPs
Philip Rutnam quit last year amid bullying allegations against the home secretary Priti Patel (above). Photo: Leon Neal/Reuters/Alamy stock photo
Former Home Office permanent secretary Sir Philip Rutnam did not sign a non-disclosure agreement when the department awarded him a hefty settlement over his constructive dismissal claim, his successor has said.
The reported six-figure settlement was also not a result of the Treasury’s U-turn on regulations that would have capped civil service exit payments at £95,000, current perm sec Matthew Rycroft told MPs.
An inquiry last November found Patel had bullied a number of Home Office civil servants, including Rutnam.
In a statement today, Rutnam said: “I have received excellent support during this process and I would like to express warm thanks to the FDA [union for civil servants] and to my legal team, Slater and Gordon and Gavin Mansfield QC.
“I also want to record my appreciation and thanks to the many individuals, known and unknown to me, who have expressed their support throughout.
“This settlement resolves my own case. The FDA is continuing to pursue in separate proceedings the wider issues that have been raised.
BBC News
Published
The government has settled with former civil servant Sir Philip Rutnam over his claim for unfair dismissal.
Sources close to Sir Philip confirmed to BBC Radio 4 s PM programme that he received £340,000 plus his legal costs.
The ex-Home Office boss quit amid bullying claims against Home Secretary Priti Patel, which she denies.
Labour s Nick Thomas-Symonds has written to Ms Patel to ask how much taxpayers money has been spent settling the case.
Sir Philip said he had been the victim of a vicious and orchestrated briefing campaign after trying to get Ms Patel to change her behaviour.