Adam Tolley KC, the lawyer who investigated Raab concludes that while Raab’s behaviour could sometimes be “abrasive” it was not “abusive.”
Dominic Raab has resigned this morning as deputy Prime Minister after an inquiry investigating bullying allegations.
However, the Esher MP says some of the findings in KC Adam Tolley’s report are “flawed” and “set a dangerous precedent for the conduct of good government”.
As news of Mr Raab’s resignation broke, the MP for Beaconsfield, Joy Morrissey was one of the first Conservative colleagues to stand in his corner saying:
“Sadly, we now live in a country where the definition of bullying includes telling someone to do their job. Where the slightest upset or annoyance is indulged with endless reports and inquiries.”
“Sadly, we now live in a country where the definition of bullying includes telling someone to do their job. Where the slightest upset or annoyance is indulged with endless reports and inquiries.”
In his report, Adam Tolley, the lawyer who investigated Raab concludes that while Raab’s behaviour could sometimes be “abrasive” it was not “abusive.”
Shedding some light on this, former Cabinet minister Esther McVey MP explains:
“People talk about Dominic Raab’s exacting standards. He was working 24/7 so he expected other people to work 24/7 with the passion that he had, and maybe they didn’t because they were wanting to do three days working from home and only on a five-day week and nine to five.”
In his resignation letter, Mr Raab said: “Whilst I feel duty bound to accept the outcome of the inquiry, it dismissed all but two of the claims levelled against me.
“I also believe that its two adverse findings are flawed and set a dangerous precedent for the conduct of good government.
“First, ministers must be able to exercise direct oversight with respect to senior officials over critical negotiations conducted on behalf of the British people, otherwise the democratic and constitutional principle of ministerial responsibility will be lost.
“First, ministers must be able to exercise direct oversight with respect to senior officials over critical negotiations conducted on behalf of the British people, otherwise the democratic and constitutional principle of ministerial responsibility will be lost.”
“This was particularly true during my time as foreign secretary, in the context of the Brexit negotiations over Gibraltar, when a senior diplomat breached the mandate agreed by cabinet.
“Second, 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. Of course, this must be done within reasonable bounds.
“Mr Tolley concluded that I had not once, in four and a half years, sworn or shouted at anyone, let alone thrown anything or otherwise physically intimidated anyone, nor intentionally sought to belittle anyone. I am genuinely sorry for any unintended stress or offence that any officials felt…
“Finally, I raised with you a number of improprieties that came to light during the course of this inquiry. They include the systematic leaking of skewed and fabricated claims to the media in breach of the rules of the inquiry and the Civil Service Code of Conduct, and the coercive removal by a senior official of dedicated Private Secretaries from my Ministry of Justice private office, in October of last year. I hope these will be independently reviewed.”
Raab added that he remains supportive of the Sunak and that he will continue to support the government on the backbenches.
He resigned earlier this morning before the findings of the report had been published.
Lord Stephen Greenhalgh said:
“The Ministerial Code is used by civil servants as a means to get ministers fired. Ministers are never invited to read the Code for Civil Servants.
“A minority of civil servants are wet, workshy and actually frustrate any progress on policy development.”
“A minority of civil servants are wet, workshy and actually frustrate any progress on policy development.”
Sir Keir Starmer said the situation showed “the continual weakness of the Prime Minister”, adding: “He should never have appointed [Raab] in the first place… and then he didn’t sack him.
The Liberal Democrats have called for a by-election in his seat, arguing that Raab is “unfit” to serve his constituents.
By William Hallowell.
