The government has settled with former civil servant Sir Philip Rutnam over his claim for unfair dismissal.

The ex-Home Office official quit last February, amid bullying claims against Home Secretary Priti Patel, which she denies.

He said he had been the victim of a "vicious and orchestrated" briefing campaign after trying to get Ms Patel to change her behaviour.

The claims had been due to be heard at an employment tribunal this September.

The Home Office said the government and Sir Philip had "jointly concluded that it is in both parties' best interests to reach a settlement at this stage".

"The government does not accept liability in this matter and it was right that the government defended the case," a spokesperson said.

The BBC understands the former official is receiving a substantial settlement.

It's probably worth it to get rid of the piece of dross.

The government has settled with former civil servant Sir Philip Rutnam over his claim for unfair dismissal.

Sources close to Sir Philip confirmed to BBC Radio 4's PM that he received £340,000 plus his legal costs.

Labour's shadow home secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds said: "Taxpayers will be appalled at having to pick up the bill for the home secretary's unacceptable behaviour."

Sir Philip said Home Office staff had come to him with allegations against Ms Patel, including "shouting and swearing" and "belittling people".

His resignation led the Cabinet Office to launch an inquiry into whether Ms Patel had broken the code governing ministers' behaviour.

Boris Johnson's standards chief Sir Alex Allan found that she had - but the PM rejected his findings and kept her in post. Sir Alex resigned in response.

In his report, Sir Alex found Ms Patel's "approach on occasions has amounted to behaviour that can be described as bullying in terms of the impact felt by individuals."

"To that extent her behaviour has been in breach of the ministerial code, even if unintentionally," he concluded.

The FDA union, which represents senior civil servants, has launched legal action to try and get Mr Johnson's decision overturned at the High Court.

Mr Johnson said he did not think Ms Patel was a bully, and had "full confidence" in her.

It's probably worth it to get rid of the piece of dross.

The payoff means Patel and Boris Johnson will no longer face the possibility of giving evidence before a public tribunal.

It will, however, lead to demands to explain how much has been spent defending the home secretary.

Rutnam’s case is the first time that a secretary of state has been pursued to an employment tribunal by a former permanent secretary, the most senior civil servant in a government department.

Patel had also been accused of bullying in two other government departments – the Department for International Development and the Department for Work and Pensions.

An aide in the DWP received a £25,000 government payout after a threatened lawsuit in which Patel was named.

Under pressure from claims, Johnson ordered a Cabinet Office inquiry last year, which was conducted by Sir Alex Allan. He wrote a report sent to the prime minister that said Patel’s behaviour amounted to bullying and was therefore a breach of the ministerial code.

As the sole arbiter of the rules, the prime minister stood by Patel *, concluding in his view that she had not broken the ministerial code.

Well, he would, wouldn't he .....