Depressing account of awful boss like Priti Patel (3,5)
I believe the answer is:
sob story
'depressing account' is the definition.
(depressing story or account)
'awful boss like priti patel' is the wordplay.
'awful' indicates anagramming the letters.
'like priti patel' becomes 'Tory' (Priti Patel is a Conservative or Tory politician).
'boss' anagrammed gives 'sobs'.
'sobs'+'tory'='SOB-STORY'
'of' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for sob story that I've seen before include "Sorry tale" , "Tale intended to arouse pity" , "Plea for sympathy from Tory boss" , "Tear-jerking tale" , "Victim's tale?" .)