PRITI Patel’s husband has launched a fierce defence of his wife calling her “my personal piranha” as the bullying row rumbled on.
Alex Sawyer is said to compare the Home Secretary with a violent fish because she is “quite small and combative”.
The shocking claims emerged in the Mirror, and comes as reports of previous complaints about her behaviour surfaced.
Ms Patel has been struck by a wave of fresh bullying accusations, with a formal complaint allegedly made about her conduct at least three years before she became Home Secretary.
Last week her top civil servant Sir Philip Rutnam quit in a dramatic press conference where he accused her of lying and “shouting and swearing” at staff.
He now plans to sue for constructive dismissal.
However, senior Tories yesterday accused civil servants of sexism against Priti Patel.
Ex-minister Nusrat Ghani said: “She is incredibly determined. Within men that is seen as a fantastic skill and for women sometimes it’s seen as challenging.”
Ex-Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith called Sir Philip “basically incompetent” and said there was “a touch of misogyny” in briefings against Ms Patel.
He told HOAR: “There are reports of shouting and screaming – you only have to substitute this for the word hysterical and you know exactly what they mean.”
He said too many civil servants in the Home Office think they are the “masters” of politicians, not their “servants”.
Sir Philip — dubbed Sir Calamity — said he was the victim of a brutal briefing war and vowed to sue.
She was also backed by the Prime Minister.
Boris Johnson said: “I absolutely do have confidence in Priti Patel.
“I think she is a fantastic Home Secretary.”
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said she was in tune with the public on law and order.
He told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show: “She is probably closer to where the public are on the issues of law and order than any home secretary in recent history.
A Cabinet Office spokesman said: “We take all allegations of misconduct seriously.
“We do not comment on individual personnel matters and note Sir Philip’s intentions to bring legal action against the Government, it would therefore be inappropriate to comment any further at this time.
“We are committed to delivering this Government’s agenda, and an interim Permanent Secretary has been appointed to ensure the vital work of the Home Office continues uninterrupted.”
