Dominic Raab, the UK’s deputy prime minister and justice secretary, has resigned after months of claims of bullying in the Ministry of Justice and other departments.
Multiple formal complaints had been lodged against the senior Conservative MP on his dealings with civil servants, including allegations that he intimidated and belittled staff, driving some to tears or forcing them to vomit before meetings.
The resignation is a big setback for Rishi Sunak, who will face questions about allowing Raab to remain in his position while an investigation was conducted by Adam Tolley KC, a famous employment barrister.
In his resignation letter, Raab stated that the findings of an investigation into his actions set a “dangerous precedent,” but emphasized that he wanted to “keep his word” after promising to leave if the report ruled against him.
He announced the report’s findings, which were delivered to Rishi Sunak on Thursday morning, April 20, stating “it dismissed all but two of the claims leveled against me.”
He went on to say that the conclusions were “flawed and set a dangerous precedent for good government conduct.”
Raab defended ministers’ ability to “provide direct critical feedback on briefings and submissions… in order to set the standards and drive the reform that the public expects from us.”
He did, however, emphasize that he was “sincerely sorry for any unintended stress or offence that any officials felt as a result of the pace, standards, and challenge that I brought to the Ministry of Justice.”
Raab said that Tolley’s study showed he had “not once, let alone thrown anything or otherwise physically intimidated anyone, nor intentionally sought to belittle anyone” in four and a half years.
He appeared to criticize the case against him, claiming that “by lowering the bar for bullying so low, this inquiry has set a dangerous precedent.”
“It will encourage bogus complaints against ministers and have a chilling effect on those driving change on behalf of your government – and ultimately the British people,” Raab added.
Raab stated that he addressed with Sunak “a number of improprieties” regarding the review of his conduct, including “the systemic leaking of skewed and fabricated claims to the media” in violation of the inquiry regulations and civil service code.
He also blasted a senior official’s “coercive removal” of “dedicated” private office workers last October, saying both incidents should be investigated independently.
Sunak could “count on my support from the backbenches,” Raab said.
