UK : Complaints against Dominic Raab - Update - Raab to stand down as MP at next election

Controversial: Politics & Govt Politics & Govt: In The News
, , , , , ,
1

The government has appointed Adam Tolley KC to investigate two complaints made about the conduct of Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab. Downing Street said Mr Tolley’s report will be published “in a timely way”. Any final judgement on whether Mr Raab was in breach of the ministerial code will remain with Mr Sunak.

Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner warned the investigation must not be a “whitewash” and called on Mr Sunak to expand its scope to cover other allegations about Mr Raab’s behaviour.

“This Conservative government has a troubling track record of brushing serious misconduct under the carpet. Their refusal to act on findings against [former home secretary] Priti Patel previously led their former ethics chief to quit in disgust,” said Ms Rayner. “A temporary stop-gap investigator, appointed in a panic, with an absurdly narrow remit is not a solution to dealing with the flood of allegations of ministerial misconduct now requiring investigation.”

Mr Tolley specialises in commercial and employment law. He represented HM Revenue and Customs in a High Court case against three BBC News presenters, which resulted in them having to pay back tens of thousands of pounds in tax.

The allegations about his behaviour towards staff relate to Mr Raab’s conduct when he was foreign secretary and later justice secretary under Boris Johnson. The two formal complaints were lodged against Mr Raab on 15 November.

The following day, Mr Raab wrote to Rishi Sunak to ask for an inquiry, hours before he has due to stand in for the PM at Prime Minister’s Questions. In the letter, he told Mr Sunak he would “thoroughly rebut and refute” the claims against him and he was “confident that I have behaved professionally throughout”.

Another “known” Tory bully to add to the list:

Priti Patel, Gavin Williamson, Imran Ahmad Khan, Daniel Kawczynski and Mark Pritchard.

2

There is now a coordinated effort by former private secretaries of Mr Raab to ensure their allegations are heard as part of the investigation.

Meanwhile, Newsnight has also been told that Mr Raab used his personal email account for government business at two separate departments - once as recently as 2021.

Officials issued multiple warnings to the deputy prime minister not to use his email in this way, a source said.

Mr Raab, however, believes that the way he has used private email does not amount to a breach of the ministerial code, which allows for it to be done in some circumstances.

On Thursday, Mr Raab said he had behaved legitimately and in line with guidance.

Asked if he had been warned by civil servants not to use his own phone for government business - he replied ‘No’.

Suella Braverman resigned as home secretary last month in part after admitting a breach of the ministerial code involving use of her private email to share government documents.

Ms Braverman, who has since been re-appointed to the role, said this should not be done “where it was not reasonably necessary”.

The prime minister’s official spokesman declined to comment on whether the investigation would include the latest allegations, but rejected suggestions the result could be a whitewash given that Mr Sunak would make the final judgement on whether Mr Raab breached the ministerial code.

Some people, it seems, can do what they like … :roll_eyes:

FYI:

After the Coalition: A Conservative Agenda for Britain is a 2011 book written by five British Conservative MPs at the time: Kwasi Kwarteng, Priti Patel, Dominic Raab, Chris Skidmore, and Liz Truss

Britannia Unchained: Global Lessons for Growth and Prosperity is a political book written by several British Conservative Party MPs and released on 13 September 2012. Its authors present a treatise, arguing that Britain should adopt a different and radical approach to business and economics or risk “an inevitable slide into mediocrity”.

The book is written by Kwasi Kwarteng, Priti Patel, Dominic Raab, Chris Skidmore and Liz Truss, five Conservative MPs who were elected in May 2010 and belong to the party’s Thatcherite-leaning Free Enterprise Group.

3

Rishi Sunak has asked for the investigation into alleged bullying by Dominic Raab to be expanded to include a third formal complaint. Downing Street says the complaint related to Mr Raab’s behaviour when he was Brexit secretary in 2018.

Earlier this week, No 10 confirmed that a lawyer would investigate two complaints about Mr Raab.

Mr Raab, who is both the justice secretary and deputy prime minister, has denied any allegations of bullying. He has insisted he “behaved professionally at all times” and that he looks forward to dealing with the complaints “transparently rather than dealing with anonymous comments in the media”.

Mr Raab is a close ally of Rishi Sunak and Downing Street has said he has the PM’s full confidence.

The decision to expand the inquiry comes after sources told the BBC the Ministry of Justice, where Mr Raab now works, has been “inundated” with complaints of alleged bullying.

The gathering storm … :question:

4

Five further complaints about Dominic Raab’s behaviour as a minister are being investigated, No 10 has said.

The prime minister’s official spokesman said the claims related to Mr Raab’s previous tenure as justice secretary. It means a total of eight complaints are now being investigated by senior lawyer Adam Tolley KC. Asked how Mr Raab could remain in his cabinet role considering the allegations against him, the prime minister’s official spokesman said: “We think it’s right there is an independent process, that the investigator looks into these claims thoroughly before coming to a view.” He added that the investigation would be concluded “swiftly”.

Mr Tolley, a commercial and employment law specialist, was appointed by the prime minister to investigate complaints against Mr Raab in November. He was chosen to lead the investigation because the role of adviser on ministers’ interests has been vacant since Lord Geidt’s resignation in June. The lawyer will report to Mr Sunak, who will make the final judgement on whether Mr Raab’s conduct breached the ministerial code and should be sacked.

Shades of BJ - admit nothing until the evidence against you is overwhelming … :roll_eyes:

5

First sign of an incompetent who is well out of their depth - shouting, table thumping and bullying. That sums up Raab.

2 Likes
6

Dominic Raab is facing a much broader bullying investigation than originally anticipated with at least 24 civil servants involved in formal complaints against him, the Guardian understands.

Government insiders believe the depth of the inquiry and severity of some of the claims means the deputy prime minister will struggle to survive in post, and it throws further doubt on Rishi Sunak’s judgment for having him in such a senior position.

The prime minister is already under siege on a separate front over the tax affairs of Nadhim Zahawi, the Conservative party chair, with growing pressure on him from senior Tories and the opposition to take decisive action irrespective of an ongoing inquiry.

Downing Street confirmed in December that the Raab was facing eight formal complaints over alleged bullying, six of them from his first stint at the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), one from when he was foreign secretary and one from when he ran the Brexit department.

However, sources said that all but two of the formal complaints involved multiple accusers. A number of his private office staff from his first stretch at the MoJ are among those believed to have made submissions. The total number of complainants is thought to be at least two dozen, and could be more than 30, sources claim.

There’s no smoke without fire … and that’s a lot of smoke … :open_mouth:

7

Mr Raab was reappointed as both justice secretary and deputy prime minister, after Mr Sunak became PM. He is facing multiple complaints from his first stint at the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), and his time as Brexit secretary in 2018. He is the subject of a single complaint from his tenure as foreign secretary.

The BBC has found that some civil servants who allegedly planned to file complaints did not. This decision came after they were told they would have been identified to Mr Raab as part of the investigation by Mr Tolley. It is understood this is standard practice for an investigation not to take testimony from anonymous sources. It is suggested some feared being identified in case Mr Raab were to remain in post, and he would know they had complained against him.

The BBC understands some staff who have not directly complained are now offering to act as witnesses to the inquiry.

Identifying the complainants to “Psycho” Raab would be providing fuel for the fire … :fire:

8

I don’t know why Senior, and maybe other, MPs don’t use recorders whenever they interview anyone who might need some “advice” as to how to improve his/her quality of work.

Without supporting evidence, which the Public could be able to see, we don’t know what was said, or how it was said.

Slackers must love the way it works currently!

9

At least one permanent secretary who worked with Dominic Raab has given evidence as a witness to the inquiry into the deputy prime minister’s behaviour, the BBC has been told.

This shows the bullying investigation is now speaking to figures who have served at the top of government.

Permanent secretaries are the UK’s most senior civil servants who run government departments.

From the inner sanctums … :thinking:

10

At least THREE senior civil servants who worked with Dominic Raab have now given evidence to the inquiry into his behaviour.

The BBC has been told one is Sir Philip Rycroft, who ran the Department for Exiting the European Union when Mr Raab was Brexit Secretary.

Another, the BBC understands, is the current permanent secretary at the Ministry of Justice, Antonia Romeo.

A third permanent secretary from a department in which Mr Raab served has also told the BBC they have been interviewed as a witness. (1)

(1) (See previous post)

Accusations from the top down and not the bottom up … :face_with_monocle:

11

All three Whitehall mandarins who worked with Dominic Raab while he was holding cabinet positions have now been interviewed by the official inquiry into his alleged bullying, the Guardian has learned.

Sources confirmed reports that the former Foreign Office permanent secretary Simon McDonald had given evidence after he admitted last year that the deputy prime minister could plausibly be characterised as a bully.

The Guardian understands that Antonia Romeo, the permanent secretary at the Ministry of Justice, and Philip Rycroft, who ran the Brexit department while Raab was in charge there, have both now also been witnesses in the investigation led by Adam Tolley KC.

Their testimony was believed to have focused on what warnings they gave to Raab at the time about his alleged behaviour. All three are understood to have spoken to the cabinet minister about how he treated civil servants.

  • Lord McDonald is understood to have spoken to Raab on several occasions during his tenure at the Foreign Office about his behaviour towards staff in his private office and during meetings. He then informally reported his concerns to the Cabinet Office’s propriety and ethics team.

  • Romeo, the MoJ permanent secretary, is said to have spoken to Raab when he was reappointed to the department by Rishi Sunak, after being sacked by Liz Truss, to warn him that he must treat staff professionally and with respect amid unhappiness about his return.

  • The Guardian has also reported that senior officials at the now disbanded Department for Exiting the European Union handed a document to the Cabinet Office about alleged bullying, while Rycroft, the top official there, shared general concerns about Raab’s behaviour with the then cabinet secretary, Mark Sedwill.

Government insiders believe that Raab is now fighting for his political survival, with one describing him as “toast” after the Guardian revealed he faces dozens of bullying allegations from across the three government departments.

Burnt toast … :exclamation:

12

In an interview with the BBC, the justice secretary and deputy prime minister said he would not comment on recent “anonymous reports in the media”. In his experience, he added, such reports were “mostly incorrect”. He said he would respect the outcome of an inquiry into his behaviour led by senior lawyer Adam Tolley KC.

Dave Penman, the leader of the FDA union which represents senior civil servants, criticised Mr Raab for speaking out while the inquiry into bullying allegations against him is active. Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Mr Penman said: “What we need is for this inquiry to conclude as quickly as possible and for the protagonist in it, who has been reminded about confidentiality, to stop giving comments to the public.”

We shall have to wait a few weeks for the result of the inquiry … :069:

13

Yup that’s what I’m doing. I believe in innocent until proven guilty, but from your posts it looks like you’ll disagree.

1 Like
14

Terms of Reference for the Investigation into formal complaints about the conduct of the Deputy Prime Minister

The Prime Minister has appointed Adam Tolley KC to conduct an independent investigation into two formal complaints which have been made about the conduct of the Rt Hon Dominic Raab MP, the Deputy Prime Minister, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice.

As an independent investigator, Adam Tolley KC has been asked to:

a. establish the specific facts surrounding the formal complaint made on 15 November about Mr Raab’s conduct at the Ministry of Justice;

b. establish the specific facts surrounding the formal complaint made on 15 November about Mr Raab’s conduct at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Information provided to the investigator is provided in confidence.

The investigation should be completed as swiftly as possible and the investigator will proceed on this basis.

The investigation will be undertaken by Adam Tolley KC with support from officials in the Cabinet Office. Those officials will work under the direction of the investigator and in line with the Civil Service Code.

The independent investigator will report to the Prime Minister on his investigation.

As set out in the Ministerial Code, the Prime Minister is the ultimate judge of the standards of behaviour expected of a Minister and the appropriate consequences of a breach of those standards.

The report of the investigation will be made public.

These Terms of Reference may be updated at the discretion of the Prime Minister, in consultation with the investigator.

So, Rishi will be the arbiter - guilt or innocence will be at his discretion.

Since the creation of the ToR there have, of course, been several extensions to the details, notably in the number of complaints and complainants.

15

Boris Johnson previously warned Dominic Raab about his conduct, according to reports that claim the former prime minister has given evidence to the bullying investigation.

Johnson has been interviewed by Adam Tolley KC, the independent lawyer who is investigating formal complaints made against Raab about his treatment of staff, according to the Daily Telegraph (paywall).

Another nail in the coffin for Raab … :hammer:

16

Makes it more likely that he’ll be shunted up to the house of lords…

1 Like
17

It is crunch time for Dominic Raab. Perhaps today. Perhaps tomorrow. In the coming days, the deputy prime minister will discover his fate.

Back in November, five months ago, the government appointed a senior lawyer, Adam Tolley KC, to conduct an independent investigation into complaints about his conduct.

“The investigation should be completed as swiftly as possible,” the terms of reference stated, almost 150 days ago.

This clearly hasn’t proved straight forward, or, it would seem, particularly limited in its scope.

The report of the investigation will be made public. So we know we will find out what is in Mr Tolley’s report. And we know the final judgement call will be one for the prime minister.

A damning indictment? A whitewash? Somewhere in between?

Raab sacked? Raab resigns? Raab stays but civil servants are sacked, moved or resign?

:thinking:

ETA The government has not officially commented or confirmed timings but several sources have told the BBC they expect the report to be handed to the prime minister today.

18

A report on allegations of bullying against Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab has been handed to the prime minister, who will now decide his fate.

Downing Street said Rishi Sunak was considering the findings before coming to a judgement on whether he broke ministerial rules.

19

Apparently he looked at someone in a stern way, that was one accusation and another he told one person his work wasn’t good enough because it was full of spelling and grammar errors.

We really do have a problem with our civil servants.

2 Likes
20

Rishi Sunak will not announce his decision on deputy PM Dominic Raab’s future today

We’re in limbo. Westminster waits.

Whitehall expected a decision today. Senior figures had been briefed it would happen. Preparations for Dominic Raab leaving government were under way.

And now this.

Those representing the complainants are livid: many of them are in the ministry of justice, watching rolling news, knowing the deputy prime minister knows who they are.

And, for now, he is still in post.

The waiting goes on.

Why is Sunak dithering … :question:

Surely the report can’t be “inconclusive” - either Raab is a bully or he isn’t … :man_shrugging: