A boss in the British Home Office has quit and says he will sue the government after being the "target of a vicious and orchestrated briefing campaign".
In a resignation statement Philip Rutnam, the former permanent secretary in the department, confirmed widespread reports of a bitter feud with Home Secretary Priti Patel - who he accused of behaviour that has "created fear".
The Home Office has refused to comment.
Ms Patel and Mr Rutnam had previously released a joint statement to deny claims of a deep rift at the top of the department while allies described her as a "demanding" boss but not a bully.
The reports of feuding prompted the head of the UK civil service to order an end to media leaks in a directive to British government staff.
British Home Secretary Priti Patel delivers a speech during a police chiefs' summit in London | Image: Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire/PA ImagesUK Cabinet Secretary Mark Sedwill told all civil servants that advice they provide for ministers and "any debates" around it should remain "private".
But Mr Rutnam told the BBC: "I have this morning resigned as permanent secretary of the Home Office. I take this decision with great regret after a career of 33 years.
"I am making this statement now because I will be issuing a claim against the Home Office for constructive dismissal.
"In the last 10 days I have been the target of a vicious and orchestrated briefing campaign.
"It has been alleged that I have briefed the media against the Home Secretary.
"This along with many other claims is completely false."
"I have been the target of a vicious and orchestrated briefing campaign"
Top civil servant in the Home Office, Sir Philip Rutnam, quits and says he intends to sue the government for constructive dismissal https://t.co/9m4hL9nUcp pic.twitter.com/U23fXTJnLT— BBC News (UK) (@BBCNews) February 29, 2020
He added: "The Home Secretary categorically denied any involvement in this campaign to the Cabinet Office.
"I regret I do not believe her. She has not made the effort I would expect to dissociate herself from the comments.
"Even despite this campaign I was willing to effect a reconciliation with the Home Secretary.
"But despite my efforts to engage with her, Priti Patel has made no effort to engage with me to discuss this.
"I believe these events give me very strong grounds to claim constructive, unfair dismissal and I will be pursuing that claim in the courts."
"My experience has been extreme, but I consider there is evidence that it was part of a wider pattern of behaviour."
He added: "I have received allegations that her conduct has included shouting and swearing, belittling people, making unreasonable and repeated demands.
"Behaviour that created fear and needed some bravery to call out."
He went on: "This has been a very difficult decision.
"But I hope that my stand will help in maintaining the quality of government in this country, which includes hundreds of thousands of civil servants loyally dedicated to delivering this government's agenda."
Dave Penman, general-secretary of the British FDA, the senior public servants' union, said it "demonstrates once again the destructive consequences of anonymous briefings against public servants who are unable to publicly defend themselves."
He added: "This cowardly practice is not only ruining lives and careers, but at a time when the Home Office is being tasked with delivering a demanding government agenda on immigration, and preparing for a public health emergency, it has diverted energy and resource in to responding to unfounded accusations from sources claiming to be allies of the Home Secretary."
