This page contains Sir Alex Allan’s findings on the Home
Secretary’s conduct and an accompanying government statement.
Government statement
The Prime Minister has taken advice from his Independent Adviser,
Sir , in relation to
the allegations made earlier this year around the Home
Secretary’s conduct. The Prime Minister takes this issue very
seriously and recognises that it is always difficult for
individuals to come forward and raise concerns and is grateful to
those who have done so. The Prime Minister is grateful to Sir
Alex for his advice and has considered his conclusions carefully.
It was clear from Sir Alex’s advice that at times there have been
difficult working relationships all round. Sir Alex’s advice
found that the Home Secretary had become – justifiably in many
instances – frustrated by the Home Office leadership’s lack of
responsiveness and the lack of support she felt in DfID three
years ago. He also found, however, that the Home Secretary had
not always treated her civil servants with the consideration and
respect that would be expected, and her approach on occasion has
amounted to behaviour that can be described as bullying in terms
of the impact felt by individuals.
He went on to advise, therefore, that the Home Secretary had not
consistently met the high standards expected of her under the
Ministerial Code.
The Prime Minister notes Sir Alex’s advice that many of the
concerns now raised were not raised at the time and that the Home
Secretary was unaware of the impact that she had. He is reassured
that the Home Secretary is sorry for inadvertently upsetting
those with whom she was working. He is also reassured that
relationships, practices and culture in the Home Office are much
improved. As the arbiter of the code, having considered Sir
Alex’s advice and weighing up all the factors, the Prime
Minister’s judgement is that the Ministerial Code was not
breached.
The Prime Minister has full confidence in the Home Secretary and
considers this matter now closed. He is grateful to the thousands
of civil servants working extremely hard to support delivery of
the Government’s priorities.
