Former aide to Priti Patel ‘took an overdose after claiming she was being bullied by the minister’

Priti Patel has been hit with fresh accusations of bullying after it tonight emerged a former aide won a £25,000 payout after claiming victimisation and taking an overdose.

In October 2015, the then employment minister was said to have sacked the female staffer, who was told she was being removed because ‘she [Ms Patel] doesn’t like your face,’ according to the BBC. 

Earlier that day, Ms Patel is alleged to have yelled at the woman to ‘get lost’ in her private office.  

The aide received a payout from the Department for Work and Pensions, the BBC reports, after claiming unfair dismissal, victimisation, harassment and discrimination against her old boss.

It comes amid a row engulfing Ms Patel after her permanent secretary at the Home Office resigned and accused the cabinet minister of waging a hostile briefing war against him.

Sir Philip Rutnam quit and pointed the finger at Ms Patel for ‘swearing, belittling people, making unreasonable and repeated demands’.

The bitter feud threatens to spill out into a full-blown public spat after he claims to have rejected a financial settlement and intends to take the government to court. 

Boris Johnson has ordered an inquiry into the bullying storm involving the Home Secretary.

The Prime Minister has asked the Cabinet Office to ‘establish the facts’  around Sir Philip, Michael Gove told MPs this afternoon.

Addressing allegations Ms Patel had broken the ministerial code, Mr Gove said: ‘The Home Secretary absolutely rejects these allegations.

‘The Prime Minister has expressed his full confidence in her and having worked closely with the Home Secretary over a number of years I have the highest regard for her.

‘She is a superb minister doing a great job.’  

The Department for Work and Pensions did not immediately respond to comment.