Philip Rutnam

{{Infobox officeholder

| honorific_prefix = Sir

| name = Philip Rutnam

| honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|KCB}}

| image = Philip Rutnam.jpg

| caption = Philip Rutnam

| office1 = Permanent Under-Secretary of State at the Home Office

| minister1 = Amber Rudd
Sajid Javid
Priti Patel

| predecessor1 = Mark Sedwill

| successor1 = Matthew Rycroft

| birth_name = Philip McDougall Rutnam

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1965|6|19|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Bromley, Kent, England

| nationality = British

| alma_mater = University of Cambridge
Harvard University

| occupation = Civil servant

| term_start1 = 5 April 2017

| term_end1 = 29 February 2020

| office2 = Permanent Secretary of the Department for Transport

| primeminister2 = David Cameron
Theresa May

| minister2 = Justine Greening
Patrick McLoughlin
Chris Grayling

| predecessor2 = Lin Homer

| successor2 = Bernadette Kelly

| term_start2 = 12 March 2012

| term_end2 = 5 April 2017

}}

Sir Philip McDougall Rutnam, {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|KCB}} (born 19 June 1965) is a British former civil servant who served as Permanent Under-Secretary of State at the Home Office from 2017 until his resignation on 29 February 2020. Prior to this, he was the Permanent Secretary at the Department for Transport for five years and also Acting Permanent Secretary at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills in 2010.[https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/31935/11-p102-bis-annual-report-and-accounts-2010-11.pdf Annual Report and Accounts 2010 –11] BIS Retrieved 8 February 2023

Rutnam is currently Chair of the National Churches Trust, the UK's national conservation charity for churches, chapels and meeting houses.{{Cite web |date=2023-08-24 |title=New Chairman appointed |url=https://www.nationalchurchestrust.org/news/new-chairman-appointed |access-date=2023-08-24 |website=National Churches Trust |language=en}} He is also Chair of the National Institute of Economic and Social Research{{Cite web |title=Sir Philip Rutnam Appointed New Chair of NIESR's Council of Management |url=https://niesr.ac.uk/news/sir-philip-rutnam-appointed-new-chair-niesrs-council-management |access-date=2024-12-03 |website=NIESR |language=en-GB}} and a Council Member of the University of Surrey.{{Cite web |title=Members of Council {{!}} University of Surrey |url=https://www.surrey.ac.uk/about/governance/members-council |access-date=2023-08-24 |website=www.surrey.ac.uk}} He was previously a Non-Executive Director of Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust,{{Cite web |last= |title=Board of Directors |url=https://www.oxfordhealth.nhs.uk/about-us/governance/board-of-directors/ |access-date=2023-08-24 |website=Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust |language=en}} where he chaired the partnership with the University of Oxford to redevelop the Warneford Hospital site as Oxford's new centre for treatment and research linked to brain science and mental health.{{Cite web|title=Warneford Park |url=https://warnefordpark.co.uk/ |access-date=2024-04-27 |website=Warneford Park |language=en}} He is also a Patron of the Independent Transport Commission.

After Rutnam resigned from the Government in February 2020, he began legal action against the Home Office for constructive dismissal, making clear that before his dismissal he had raised serious concerns about Ministerial conduct towards staff. As a consequence of his statement, the Prime Minister asked the Independent Adviser on Ministers' Interests to investigate the conduct of the Home Secretary, Priti Patel, towards staff. The Adviser later found that she had breached the Ministerial Code by bullying staff. The legal action was settled in March 2021 in a settlement worth approximately £376,000 including a contribution to Rutnam's legal costs of £30,000.{{Cite web |date=2021-07-09 |title=Home Office's settlement with ex-perm sec topped £370k |url=https://www.civilserviceworld.com/news/article/home-office-settlement-with-philip-rutnam-priti-patel-topped-370k |access-date=2023-08-24 |website=Civil Service World |language=en}}

Early life and education

Born in Bromley,{{Cite web|url=http://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/information.pl?cite=bcU34cm7OpDhajt1rG3szw&scan=1|title=Index entry|access-date=30 December 2017|work=FreeBMD|publisher=ONS}} Rutnam was educated at Dulwich College Preparatory School, Dulwich College, Trinity Hall, Cambridge, and Harvard University[http://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/article/oupww/whoswho/U249985 RUTNAM, Philip McDougall], Who's Who 2014, A & C Black, 2014; online edn, Oxford University Press, 2014 where he was a Kennedy Scholar{{Cite web|url=https://www.kennedytrust.org.uk/display.aspx?id=1858&pid=0&tabId=230|title=Full List of Kennedy Scholars - Kennedy Memorial Trust|website=www.kennedytrust.org.uk|access-date=8 February 2023}}

Career

Rutnam joined the Civil Service in 1987 where he held posts at the Treasury. He also worked for Morgan Stanley in Hong Kong and later joined Ofcom where he helped build the organisation from inception and was Partner, Competition and RegulationOfcom annual report 2004/5 https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/3071/full.pdf and a member of the Board.{{cite press release|title=New Permanent Secretary for Department for Transport|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-permanent-secretary-for-department-for-transport--6|publisher=Department for Transport and The Rt Hon Justine Greening MP|accessdate=2 November 2014|date=12 March 2012}} He joined the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills as Director General and a board member in 2009.{{Cite web |title=BIS resource accounts 2009 to 2010 |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/department-for-business-innovation-and-skills-resource-accounts-2009-10-including-the-consolidated-resource-accounts-for-the-year-ended-31-march-2010-hc-211 |access-date=2023-08-24 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}}

=Department for Transport=

Rutnam became Permanent Secretary at the Department for Transport in April 2012 with the Secretary of State, Justine Greening, commenting that his "outstanding record and business focused skillset will be tremendous assets".{{Cite web |title=New Permanent Secretary for Department for Transport |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-permanent-secretary-for-department-for-transport--6 |access-date=2023-08-24 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}} As of 2015, Rutnam was paid a salary of between £170,000 and £174,999, making him one of the 328 most highly paid people in the British public sector at that time.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/492289/150K_senior_salaries.csv/preview|title=Senior officials 'high earners' salaries as at 30 September 2015 - GOV.UK|date=2015-12-17|website=www.gov.uk|access-date=2016-03-13|archive-date=4 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190504113001/https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/492289/150K_senior_salaries.csv/preview|url-status=dead}}

He oversaw the development of HS2,"Department for Transport Annual Report and Accounts 2013-14" https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/324031/dft-annual-report-2014-web.pdf the creation of Highways England,{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dft-annual-report-and-accounts-2015-to-2016|title=DfT: annual report and accounts 2015 to 2016|website=GOV.UK|accessdate=8 February 2023}} a review of airport policy,"DfT annual report and accounts 2016/17" https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/635176/dft-annual-report-and-accounts-2016-to-2017-web-version.pdf a substantial completion of works on Thameslink,{{Cite web |date=2017-11-23 |title=Update on the Thameslink Programme - National Audit Office (NAO) report |url=https://www.nao.org.uk/reports/update-on-the-thameslink-programme/ |access-date=2023-08-24 |website=National Audit Office (NAO) |language=en-US}} a new approach to rail franchising after the failure of the West Coast procurement begun in 2010,"DfT annual report and accounts 2013/14" https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/324031/dft-annual-report-2014-web.pdf and a reset of the £61 billion Network Rail improvement plan from 2012."Business plan 2012-2015 DfT" https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/3367/dft-2012-business-plan.pdf

=Disability Champion=

From 2015 to 2020 he was Disability Champion for the Civil Service.{{Cite web |title=Sir Philip Rutnam, Home Office Permanent Secretary, and Civil Service Disability Champion - Civil Service |url=https://civilservice.blog.gov.uk/author/philip-rutnam/ |access-date=2023-08-24 |website=civilservice.blog.gov.uk}}

=Home Office=

On 27 February 2017, it was announced that Rutnam would replace Mark Sedwill as Permanent Secretary at the Home Office.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/cabinet-office-new-senior-appointments-and-changes|title=Cabinet office: new senior appointments and changes - GOV.UK|website=www.gov.uk|language=en|access-date=2017-03-05}} with the Cabinet Secretary, Jeremy Heywood, noting his “strong track record of leadership and achievement”.{{Cite web |title=Cabinet office: new senior appointments and changes |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/cabinet-office-new-senior-appointments-and-changes |access-date=2023-08-24 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}} Rutnam took up the post in April 2017.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/people/philip-rutnam|title=Philip Rutnam - GOV.UK|website=www.gov.uk|language=en|access-date=2017-05-18}} He oversaw the Home Office response to the Grenfell Tower Fire,{{Cite web |title=Home Office annual report and accounts: 2017 to 2018 |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/home-office-annual-report-and-accounts-2017-to-2018 |access-date=2023-08-24 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}} and to the Windrush Scandal,{{Cite web |date=2019-06-28 |title=Home Office annual report and accounts: 2018 to 2019 |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/home-office-annual-report-and-accounts-2018-to-2019 |access-date=2023-08-24 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}} and to the series of terrorist attacks between 2017 and 2018, as well as the rollout of the European Union Settlement Scheme and preparations for Brexit.{{Cite web |title=More than £2 billion Brexit preparation funding awarded to departments for a successful EU exit |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/more-than-2-billion-brexit-preparation-funding-awarded-to-departments-for-a-successful-eu-exit |access-date=2023-08-24 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}}

Following the Windrush Scandal he said he deeply regretted not identifying this as a systemic issue and that the department had not understood enough about the population affected.{{Cite web |title=Oral evidence - Windrush generation and the Home Office - 17 Dec 2018 |url=http://data.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/committeeevidence.svc/evidencedocument/public-accounts-committee/windrush-generation-and-the-home-office/oral/94398.html |access-date=2023-08-24 |website=data.parliament.uk}} On 29 April 2018 Amber Rudd resigned as Home Secretary after she had claimed incorrectly that she had never been aware that there were targets for immigration removals.

Rutnam was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in the 2018 New Year Honours for public service.{{London Gazette |issue=62150 |date=30 December 2017 |page=N3 |supp=y}}

=Resignation=

On 29 February 2020 Rutnam announced his resignation, stating publicly that he would sue the Government for constructive dismissal following a "vicious and orchestrated campaign" against him after he had raised concerns about Ministerial conduct. In his statement he said: “One of my duties as Permanent Secretary was to protect the health, safety and wellbeing of our 35,000 people. This created tension with the Home Secretary, and I have encouraged her to change her behaviours. This has been a very difficult decision but I hope that my stand may help in maintaining the quality of government in our country, which includes hundreds of thousands of civil servants loyally dedicated to delivering this government’s agenda”.{{Cite news |last=Media |first=P. A. |date=2020-02-29 |title=Philip Rutnam resignation: his full statement |language=en-GB |work=The Observer |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/feb/29/philip-rutnam-resignation-his-full-statement |access-date=2023-08-24 |issn=0029-7712}}

Sir Mark Sedwill wrote in his official response that he regretted his decision, saying that he was "grateful for your devoted public service and excellent contribution over the course of your long and distinguished career in the Civil Service...you have ever been mindful of the Civil Service values, demonstrated in the way you have conducted yourself in your roles.”.{{Cite web |title=Letter from Sir Mark Sedwill to Sir Philip Rutnam (accessible version) |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/letter-from-sir-mark-sedwill-to-sir-philip-rutnam-29-february-2020/letter-from-sir-mark-sedwill-to-sir-philip-rutnam-accessible-version |access-date=2023-08-24 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}}

The General Secretary of the FDA, Dave Penman, commented on Rutnam's "brave and principled decision to resign".{{Cite web | title=x.com | url=https://twitter.com/fdagensec/status/1367496485152174080?lang=ar-x-fm | access-date=2025-02-08 | website=twitter.com}}

A report by Sir Alex Allan, the Prime Minister's Independent Advisor on Ministerial Standards, later concluded that Priti Patel's approach "amounted to behaviour that can be described as bullying" and that she had "not consistently met the high standards expected of her"."Findings of the Independent Advisor" https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/937010/Findings_of_the_Independent_Adviser.pdf

On 4 March 2021, the Government announced that it had settled Rutnam's legal claims. It later confirmed that the value of the settlement was approximately £376,000,{{Cite web |date=2022-05-30 |title=Home Office annual report and accounts: 2020 to 2021 |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/home-office-annual-report-and-accounts-2020-to-2021 |access-date=2023-08-24 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}} and that the claims settled had included making protected disclosures under whistleblowing laws and/or health and safety law.{{Cite web|url=https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/5872/documents/66751/default/|title=Home Office letter 27 April 2021|accessdate=8 February 2023}}