Priti Patel ‘deeply concerned’ by ‘false allegations’ MI5 don’t trust her

Reported today on City AM

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The government has dismissed reports that Home Secretary Priti Patel is not trusted by intelligence officials and that she bullied her staff as "false".Officials have denied that MI5 held back information from Patel after claims emerged that intelligence chiefs do not trust her. Patel has also been accused of trying to force out Sir Philip Rutnam, the Home Office's most senior civil servant.Read more: MI5 officials limit information they give home secretary Priti PatelA Home Office spokesperson said Patel and Rutnam were "deeply concerned about the number of false allegations appearing in the media".The home secretary has now demanded the Cabinet Office launch an inquiry into the source of the leaks, according to the Press Association. It was reported last week that Patel had tried to remove Rutnam from his position following a series of arguments. The Times then reported allegations that the Home Secretary had bullied officials, making unreasonable demands and creating an "atmosphere of fear" - claims the Home Office has denied. In a statement this morning, a spokesperson for the department said Patel and Rutnam "are focused on delivering on the Home Office's hugely important agenda, which includes creating an immigration system that works for the UK, putting more police on the streets and keeping the public safe from terrorism".In a separate statement, the department denied the allegations regarding MI5, saying Patel "receives the same daily intelligence briefings as her predecessors"."The home secretary and MI5 have a strong and close working relationship," they continued. "Baseless claims to the contrary are both wrong and against the public interest.""Priti is absolutely livid," an ally of the home secretary told The Times. "The blob [a derogatory term for senior

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