SENIOR public servants’ union FDA was given the go-ahead today to bring a legal challenge against Prime Minister Boris Johnson for his unwavering support for Home Secretary Priti Patel following the February 2020 bullying scandal.

In February this year, the union launched judicial review proceedings after Mr Johnson disregarded his adviser’s findings on ministerial standards to back Ms Patel last year.

Sir Alex Allan left his advisory role in Downing Street after the PM contradicted his advice by judging that Ms Patel did not breach the rules, despite being found to have bullied staff.

Ms Patel was accused of occasionally shouting and swearing at staff.

Ministers are usually expected to resign if they breach the ministerial code.

At a High Court hearing in London today, Mr Justice Linden granted the FDA permission for a full hearing of the judicial review claim.

In an investigation into Ms Patel’s behaviour published in November, Sir Alex found that Ms Patel had not always treated civil servants with “consideration and respect.”

Mr Allan concluded that Ms Patel’s behaviour met the definition of bullying adopted by the Civil Service.

FDA general secretary Dave Penman said: “The ministerial code is the only means by which civil servants can raise complaints against the conduct of ministers and it is vital that decisions on this are subject to the rule of law.

“Ministers should be held to the same standards of conduct as civil servants.”

Mr Penman said in February that the affair had crushed Civil Service trust in the ministerial code.

Following Mr Allan’s report, Ms Patel issued an “unreserved, fulsome apology” and Mr Johnson wrote to ministers and heads of government departments, saying that there was “no place for bullying.”