Boris Johnson Backs ''Fantastic'' Priti Patel Amid Bullying Row

London: UK prime minister Boris Johnson said Priti Patel is a "fantastic" home secretary as he backed his senior Cabinet minister amid a row over the resignation of her top civil official, while the government announced an internal inquiry into the issue.

Philip Rutnam, the Home Office's most senior official, resigned on Saturday citing a "vicious and orchestrated" campaign against him.

In response to an Opposition question over the issue in the House of Commons on Monday, Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove said the usual process under the UK's ministerial code has been triggered to "establish the facts".