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Dominic Raab lashes out at 'flawed' bullying inquiry as he quits Dominic Raab resigns as bullying inquiry finds 'aggressive conduct'
(about 3 hours later)
Dominic Raab has angrily dismissed the findings of a bullying inquiry that found he abused his power and prompted him to resign as deputy prime minister. Dominic Raab has resigned as deputy prime minister after a bullying inquiry found he acted in an "intimidating" and "aggressive" way towards officials.
The inquiry, by a senior lawyer, was set up by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak after eight formal complaints about Mr Raab's behaviour as a minister.The inquiry, by a senior lawyer, was set up by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak after eight formal complaints about Mr Raab's behaviour as a minister.
The report concluded Mr Raab had engaged in an "abuse or misuse of power" when foreign secretary. The lawyer made multiple findings that fit a description of bullying in a report submitted to Mr Sunak.
It found he acted in an "intimidating" and "aggressive" way with officials. Mr Raab said the inquiry was "flawed and sets a dangerous precedent".
Mr Raab said he would quit the government if the inquiry by senior lawyer Adam Tolley KC made any finding of bullying against him whatsoever. The senior Conservative MP said he would quit the government if the inquiry by senior lawyer Adam Tolley KC made any finding of bullying against him whatsoever.
The bullying complaints, which involved 24 people, relate to Mr Raab's previous periods as justice secretary and foreign secretary under Boris Johnson, and his time as Brexit secretary under Theresa May.
Mr Tolley's report concluded Mr Raab had engaged in an "abuse or misuse of power" when foreign secretary, and "acted in a manner which was intimidating" towards officials at the Ministry of Justice.
In a resignation letter to Mr Sunak, Mr Raab said the inquiry "dismissed all but two of the claims levelled against me".In a resignation letter to Mr Sunak, Mr Raab said the inquiry "dismissed all but two of the claims levelled against me".
But Mr Raab said two findings that went against him were "flawed" and "set a dangerous precedent for the conduct of good government". He said he feared the inquiry would "encourage spurious complaints against ministers, and have a chilling effect on those driving change on behalf of your government - and ultimately the British people".
LIVE: Dominic Raab resignsLIVE: Dominic Raab resigns
Dominic Raab's resignation letter in fullDominic Raab's resignation letter in full
Raab: Karate black-belt who is no stranger to controversyRaab: Karate black-belt who is no stranger to controversy
In a letter to Mr Raab, Mr Sunak said his former deputy had kept his word after "rightly" undertaking to resign if the report made any finding of bullying whatsoever.In a letter to Mr Raab, Mr Sunak said his former deputy had kept his word after "rightly" undertaking to resign if the report made any finding of bullying whatsoever.
But the prime minister said he thought there had been "shortcomings in the historic process that have negatively affected everyone involved". But the prime minister said he thought there had been "shortcomings" in the process and had asked civil servants to look at how complaints are handled.
The prime minister's spokesperson said Mr Sunak did not regret appointing Mr Raab to be his deputy.
The resignation of Mr Raab - one of Mr Sunak's key supporters during the Conservative leadership contest last year - triggered a mini-reshuffle of Mr Sunak's top team.
Mr Sunak has promoted two of his closest allies - Oliver Dowden as deputy prime minister, and Alex Chalk justice secretary - to fill the posts left vacant by Mr Raab.
Mr Raab's political fate had been hanging in the balance for about 24 hours after the prime minister received the report from Mr Tolley on Thursday morning.Mr Raab's political fate had been hanging in the balance for about 24 hours after the prime minister received the report from Mr Tolley on Thursday morning.
The resignation of Mr Raab - one of Mr Sunak's key supporters during the Conservative leadership contest last year - means the prime minister will need to appoint a new justice secretary.
Mr Tolley was investigating eight formal complaints of bullying against Mr Raab, who was appointed deputy prime minister and justice secretary last October.
The bullying complaints, which involved 24 people, relate to Mr Raab's previous periods as justice secretary and foreign secretary under Boris Johnson, and his time as Brexit secretary under Theresa May.
Watch: Sir Keir Starmer said Rishi Sunak should have sacked Dominic Raab, rather than allow him to resignWatch: Sir Keir Starmer said Rishi Sunak should have sacked Dominic Raab, rather than allow him to resign
Watch: Sir Keir Starmer said Rishi Sunak should have sacked Dominic Raab, rather than allow him to resignWatch: Sir Keir Starmer said Rishi Sunak should have sacked Dominic Raab, rather than allow him to resign
Mr Raab's resignation is the third departure of a cabinet minister since Mr Sunak became prime minister.Mr Raab's resignation is the third departure of a cabinet minister since Mr Sunak became prime minister.
A Downing Street source said Mr Sunak did not urge Mr Raab to resign.A Downing Street source said Mr Sunak did not urge Mr Raab to resign.
Labour has accused Mr Sunak of being weak for failing to sack Mr Raab.Labour has accused Mr Sunak of being weak for failing to sack Mr Raab.
"We've had 13 years of Tory PMs trying to dodge the rules and defend their mates," a Labour source said. "Enough is enough.""We've had 13 years of Tory PMs trying to dodge the rules and defend their mates," a Labour source said. "Enough is enough."
The Liberal Democrats said Mr Raab's resignation should trigger a by-election for his Esher and Walton seat, in Surrey, calling him "unfit to represent his constituents in Parliament".The Liberal Democrats said Mr Raab's resignation should trigger a by-election for his Esher and Walton seat, in Surrey, calling him "unfit to represent his constituents in Parliament".
Tolley's findingsTolley's findings
In November last year, the prime minister appointed Mr Tolley to investigate the facts surrounding the complaints made against Mr Raab. In his conclusions, Mr Tolley said he found a description of bullying had been met, when Mr Raab was foreign secretary and justice secretary.
On Thursday, the report was delivered to Downing Street, and Mr Tolley was for the prime minister to decide whether Mr Raab had breached the ministerial code. Mr Tolley said Mr Raab had "acted in a way which was intimidating, in the sense of unreasonably and persistently aggressive conduct in the context of a work meeting", and that his behaviour involved "an abuse or misuse of power in a way that undermines or humiliates".
The ministerial code is a rulebook which sets out the standards of conduct expected of government ministers.
In his report, which runs to 47 pages, Mr Tolley used a definition of bullying from a court case in 2021.
In his conclusions, Mr Tolley said he found that definition of bullying had been met, when Mr Raab was foreign secretary and justice secretary.
Mr Tolley said Mr Raab had "acted in a way which was intimidating, in the sense of unreasonably and persistently aggressive conduct in the context of a work meeting", and that Mr Raab's behaviour involved "an abuse or misuse of power in a way that undermines or humiliates".
Mr Tolley also said, at meetings with policy officials, Mr Raab "acted in a manner which was intimidating, in the sense of going further than was necessary or appropriate in delivering critical feedback".Mr Tolley also said, at meetings with policy officials, Mr Raab "acted in a manner which was intimidating, in the sense of going further than was necessary or appropriate in delivering critical feedback".
Mr Raab was "also insulting, in the sense of making unconstructive critical comments about the quality of work done (whether or not as a matter of substance any criticism was justified)", Mr Tolley said.Mr Raab was "also insulting, in the sense of making unconstructive critical comments about the quality of work done (whether or not as a matter of substance any criticism was justified)", Mr Tolley said.
He said Mr Raab "did not intend by the conduct described to upset or humiliate", nor did he "target anyone for a specific type of treatment".He said Mr Raab "did not intend by the conduct described to upset or humiliate", nor did he "target anyone for a specific type of treatment".
Coming out fightingComing out fighting
Mr Raab pulled no punches in his resignation letter. He made that clear that, while he accepted the outcome of the inquiry, he did not agree with the findings against him.Mr Raab pulled no punches in his resignation letter. He made that clear that, while he accepted the outcome of the inquiry, he did not agree with the findings against him.
He said ministers "must be able to give direct critical feedback on briefings and submissions to senior officials, in order to set the standards and drive the reform the public expect of us".He said ministers "must be able to give direct critical feedback on briefings and submissions to senior officials, in order to set the standards and drive the reform the public expect of us".
While he apologised for any "unintended" stress caused, he attributed this to the "pace, standards and challenge" he brought to the Ministry of Justice.While he apologised for any "unintended" stress caused, he attributed this to the "pace, standards and challenge" he brought to the Ministry of Justice.
"In setting the threshold for bullying so low, this inquiry has set a dangerous precedent," Mr Raab wrote."In setting the threshold for bullying so low, this inquiry has set a dangerous precedent," Mr Raab wrote.
"It will encourage spurious complaints against ministers, and have a chilling effect on those driving change on behalf of your government - and ultimately the British people."
His main argument appears to be that ministers need to be able to give direct critical feedback, and exercise direct oversight, over their civil servant officials.His main argument appears to be that ministers need to be able to give direct critical feedback, and exercise direct oversight, over their civil servant officials.
One question now is whether he decides to take any further action.One question now is whether he decides to take any further action.
He has punchily accused some civil servants of "systematic leaking of skewed and fabricated claims" and claimed a senior official initiated a "coercive removal" of some of his private secretaries last year.He has punchily accused some civil servants of "systematic leaking of skewed and fabricated claims" and claimed a senior official initiated a "coercive removal" of some of his private secretaries last year.
Someone who advised Mr Raab in a senior role in one department told the BBC his resignation letter contained "one of the best examples of a 'non-apology' from a minister in recent years".Someone who advised Mr Raab in a senior role in one department told the BBC his resignation letter contained "one of the best examples of a 'non-apology' from a minister in recent years".
The person said Mr Raab's version of being the deputy prime minister "is one that should be learnt from and ultimately consigned to the history books".The person said Mr Raab's version of being the deputy prime minister "is one that should be learnt from and ultimately consigned to the history books".
A senior Tory MP and former Cabinet minister said: "Has Dominic Raab been hard done by? Certainly. Is he the victim of a civil service union ambush? Probably."A senior Tory MP and former Cabinet minister said: "Has Dominic Raab been hard done by? Certainly. Is he the victim of a civil service union ambush? Probably."
The FDA, a union that represents civil servants, has called for an independent inquiry in to ministerial bullying following the Raab investigation.The FDA, a union that represents civil servants, has called for an independent inquiry in to ministerial bullying following the Raab investigation.
FDA General Secretary Dave Penman said Mr Raab's resignation was a "damning indictment" of the process for enforcing ministerial standards within government.FDA General Secretary Dave Penman said Mr Raab's resignation was a "damning indictment" of the process for enforcing ministerial standards within government.
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