Pritti Patel wouldn't be getting this much crap if she was a man

[FFSFFSFFS]

I think she's probably an awful person and probably has been all sorts of awful to all the civil servants. I am really not a fan and I do think this kind of behaviour should be held to account

BUT I am willing to bet a LOT of money that Philip Rutham would have reacted very differently if she was not an Indian woman.

The amount of bullying that happens by senior men both in the corporate world and in the public service is massive. And yet here we have all these unprecedented and extraordinary steps being taken and it just happens to be a woman....

[DuckWillow]

She wouldn’t be getting this much crap if she was a decent human being but she’s not. I therefore couldn’t give a stiff how much crap she’s getting.

[Graphista]

Bull! JRM, IDS, Johnson and other similarly awful men get just as much criticism.

[flashbac]

I'd have to disagree with you on this one. She is a truly nasty piece of work (death penalty anyone?) and was sacked by Teresa May. She should never have been given the job. Being a woman doesn't give her a get out of jail free card.

[Mockerswithnoknockers]

The latest word is that while at the DWP she drove one of her office staff to take an overdose.

[MissEliza]

I loathe Priti Patel and don't think she's up to the job. However I was interested to read that while Phillip Ruthman got on well with Sajid, he clashed with Amber Rudd as well. It does make me wonder if he has a problem with women.

[FFSFFSFFS]

But @DuckWillow Boris Johnson is not a decent human being. Recently there's been reports about the bullying culture at the Financial Services Authority. Jeremy Corbyn is a huge bully.

So my point is why don't men get called out on and why is it easier to call women out on it?

[Echobelly]

I don't think she's got a disproportionate amount - she does appear to be genuinely awful and has some truly ill-informed, counter-productive ideas about How Things Should Be Done. Criticism I've seen of her entirely concentrates on what she's said and done, not that she's a woman and her ethnic background.

Compare that to the virulently sexist, racist abuse that Diane Abbot gets, who is merely rather crap (I am not fan, but really, is she worse than many mediocre white, male MPs who people leave alone?) and what Patel has to take is a walk in the park.

[FFSFFSFFS]

To be clear - I'm not saying that she shouldn't be held to account - my point is that she is hardly the first awful bully and yet she is the one that that unprecedented steps are being taken against.

Why haven't similar steps been taken against men?

[FFSFFSFFS]

And when I say response - I mean response by the Civil Service - who are almost overwhelming white older men.

[june2007]

Think you might be right. But then does sound like she is in the wrong.

[derxa]

I agree. She might be nasty but I don't think Philip Rutman is an angel either. The government is gunning for the Civil Service and Patel is an easy target in their fight back. It's reminding me of The Thick of It.

[BiologyIsReal]

And then there wasJohn Bercow.....seems to be doing OK

[Witchlight]

John Bercow anyone....

I think she is genuinely awful. I know people who work for her.

[Witchlight]

... and she is more awful than other awful ministers.

[Freezingold]

Disagree.

Nothing to do with her gender or ethnic group.

[SpokeTooSoon]

I read this weekend that the left don’t like her because she’s an Asian woman who didn’t ask their permission to be successful.

I think there’s something in that. How dare she be a Tory? Doesn’t she know immigrants must vote Labour?

[Witchlight]

I think you are very out of date if you think the CS is almost overwhelming white older men. Do you know people who work there, or do you just watch Yes Minister?

[catwithnohat]

I think she would actually - but would she have behaved in the same way as a man would.... probably.

Shocking behaviour regardless of gener/sex/colour or creed.

[Devlesko]

I detest her, because she's a racist and a bully. I don't care what colour, or sex she is.
I'd hate a man who was the same
HTH

[ElderAve]

I agree. It sounds like she's awful and deserves whatever's coming to her but in the work he does/did this can't be the first awful person Rutham's come across. I also don't think it would be getting anything like as much attention if she weren't a woman named Patel.

Wasn't there some evidence that it was Rutham's work that lead to the downfall of Ambet Rudd?

[BaolFan]

I read this weekend that the left don’t like her because she’s an Asian woman who didn’t ask their permission to be successful.

I think there’s something in that. How dare she be a Tory? Doesn’t she know immigrants must vote Labour?

That argument falls over when you look at the amount of shit that gets thrown at Diane Abbott.

Priti Patel is being hauled over the coals because she is inconsistent, extreme and determined to pander to the lowest common denominator. I think it has very little to do with the fact that she is an immigrant who is a member of the Conservative Party, and more to do with the fact that many people feel she's been promoted beyond her capabilities.

[boatyardblues]

The allegations on the 6pm news about the bullying of a civil servant who then attempted suicide are pretty shocking.

[GloGirl]

John Bercow did NOT get this much stick until after he stepped down from Speaker but the allegations against him were as bad, and as long standing. When he was in a position of power, and not whining about not getting his knighthood - he definitely had different treatment.

[MissingLinker]

What are the bullying allegations against Jeremy Corbyn? I've not heard anything about that.

[derxa]

What are the bullying allegations against Jeremy Corbyn? I've not heard anything about that. Me neither and I'm not a fan to say the least.