Home Secretary Priti Patel was judged to have bullied some of the officials with whom she had to work, thereby breaking the code of conduct ministers are required to follow.

Home Secretary Priti Patel was judged to have bullied some of the officials with whom she had to work, thereby breaking the code of conduct ministers are required to follow. She did not resign, however, nor was she sacked by the prime minister, but she did apologise and promise to do better in future. Nevertheless Boris Johnson should not have overruled the inquiry findings, which means not only is her reputation now tainted, but his is as well – even though he has formally warned his fellow ministers that bullying will not be tolerated.

While this was going on, calls were being heard – not least in letters to The Tablet – for the resignation of Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster, in response to criticisms of his conduct by the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse into his handling of sexual abuse by priests. He was not accused of being an abuser himself nor as someone who had shielded abusers from prosecution, but he was criticised for lack of leadership and for failing to show sympathy and compassion for survivors and victims. Like Ms Patel, he has since apologised and promised to do better in future.

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