Two formal complaints have been tabled against UK’s Deputy Prime Minister (PM), Dominic Raab on his conduct.
The deputy PM who is also Lord Chancellor and Secretary of Justice, has revealed that complaints about him bullying others while he served as Justice Secretary and Foreign Affairs Secretary under the erstwhile Boris Johnson administration has been levelled against him.
He has in turn written to Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, asking that an independent investigation into the allegations be carried out.
“I have written to the Prime Minister to request an independent investigation into two formal complaints that have been made against me. I look forward to addressing these complaints, and continuing to serve as Deputy Prime Minister, Justice Secretary, and Lord Chancellor.”
Dominic Raab, Deputy PM of UK
The Deputy PM’s letter came just moments before Parliament’s meeting today. It was likely that while Raab stood in for Sunak during Prime Minister’s Questions in the house today, questions on his alleged misconduct would surface.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has acceded to Raab’s request and so soon, investigation into the allegations will begin.
In his reply to Mr. Raab, the Prime Minister said, “I know that you will be keen to address the complaints made against you and agree that proceeding in this way is the right course of action.”
However, the PM gave no clear indication as to when the investigation will begin. Such a probe would usually fall within the remit of the PM’s adviser on ministerial conduct.
It must be noted that the position of ‘PM’s adviser on ministerial conduct’ has been vacant since Lord Geidt, the last occupant of the portfolio, resigned in June this year upon accepting that the then Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, broke ministerial rules during the popular Partygate scandal.
The Bullying Allegations
Mr. Raab has in recent times faced series of newspaper allegations that he bullied civil servants during his previous government roles.
Even though the Deputy PM has denied all such allegations, they never cease to come.
For instance, Lord Simon McDonald who was Head of the foreign office when Dominic Raab was Foreign Secretary in a recent interview, described his former boss as “abrasive and controlling.”
Lord Simon claimed that staff at the foreign office were even scared to enter Raab’s office. “He [Raab] would be very curt with people. And he did this in front of a lot of other people. I think people felt demeaned,” Lord Simon added.
The allegations notwithstanding, the Deputy PM in his letter to the Prime Minister, indicated that he had “never tolerated bullying” and moreover, he has “always sought to reinforce and empower” civil servants.
He added that he will “co-operate fully” with any inquiry into his conduct.
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