Dominic Raab promised to leave if Adam Tolly's report confirmed any bullying allegations. Photo: Daniel Leal/AFP via Getty Images After a night of mulling over his options, Dominic Raab tweeted his resignation at 9:48 am, warning that his departure due to alleged bullying had set a «dangerous precedent» .
Now the former Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary has kept his promise a few weeks earlier that if the bullying allegation is confirmed, he will resign.
“I think it’s important to keep your word,” he said in a letter to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
The two findings in Tolly’s report on the alleged bullying left Mr. Raab little choice, given his previous promise, although in his letter he said that he considered these two decisions «mistaken».
Indeed, he has maintained throughout the investigation by Adam Tolley KC that he did not feel he had done anything wrong during his tenure as Secretary of State, and that it was indeed right for cabinet ministers to manage their departments and civil servants. adding value to taxpayers. for money.
It is therefore not surprising that he drew attention to this process, warning that by «setting such a low threshold for bullying», the investigation set a «dangerous precedent».
He continued: «This will encourage false complaints against ministers and have a deterrent effect on those who are making change on behalf of your government and ultimately the British people.»
My resignation letter.👇 pic. twitter.com/DLjBfChlFq
— Dominic Raab (@DominicRaab) April 21, 2023
Sunak said his resignation saves the government from accusations of hypocrisy by opposition politicians for promising to clean up politics but then failing to take tough action when they came to power. Even though it came at the cost of losing a politician who was one of his most trusted aides during two campaigns.
“This government will be honest, professional and accountable at all levels. Trust is earned, and I will earn yours.» That's what Rishi Sunak said on the 10 steps when he became prime minister last October.
It was his way of distancing himself from Boris Johnson, whose premiership collapsed in disarray after allegations that he lied about parties at Downing Street during the lockdown.
Within days, his pious promise was put under doubt.
Sir Gavin Williamson had to resign as Cabinet Minister following a plethora of allegations, including a statement from Wendy Morton, the former Chief Whip, who filed a formal complaint against the texts he sent her, which she considered intimidating in nature.
Then, in January, Mr. Sunak fired Nadhim Zahavi as chairman of the Tory Party after the prime minister's ethics adviser said he had violated the ministerial code by not disclosing what was being done against him. investigation by HM Revenue and Customs when he was Chancellor to Mr Johnson.
Two men fell in two months — both due to integrity issues.
Mr. Zahavi was a supporter of Liz Truss and then famously of Mr. Johnson when he briefly considered running for his old job, and so there was no reason Mr. Sunak should have had him support.
But Dominic Raab was different. The Deputy Prime Minister was one of Mr. Sunak's most senior supporters when he entered the ring to replace Mr. Johnson last July.
When Sunak launched his campaign, it was Mr. Raab introduced him.
р><р>And a month later, he made one of his most provocative campaign interventions when he warned the Tories that the emergency tax cut promised by Liz Truss would be a «suicide note» for the party before the election.
An article in The Times stated that her plans will harm the living standards of millions of people to the extent that the Conservatives face «impotent oblivion» in the next election.
Was Dominic Raab right when he resigned?
Ms Truss was so outraged by the comments that she kicked him out of the office. But given his loyalty, Mr. Sunak brought him back when he became prime minister.
But how wise was this decision? Rumors of the minister's tough approach have long circulated, but there has never been an official complaint.
Less than a month after he returned as deputy prime minister and justice minister, Mr Raab faced a series of allegations of bullying.
Sir Gavin was defeated, and what happened to Mr. Raab will be seen by some as an attempt by enemies of the government in the civil service to pull the same trick on the Deputy Prime Minister.
11 November. , the first accusations of bullying the Minister of Justice surfaced, and civil servants apparently offered a «reprieve or exit» as soon as he was reappointed.
He also faced accusations that in a fit of rage he threw three tomatoes across the table «make a lot of noise». Reports say he threw away the contents of the Pret A Manger salad after expressing displeasure at the briefing.
Five days later, two formal complaints were filed about his conduct during his tenure as Attorney General and Foreign Secretary under Mr. Johnson.
The allegations against Mr. Raab included a statement that that he lost his temper during work and that employees are «afraid» to enter their office.
It was alleged that a prominent official from the Brexit department sent a document with an «official expression of concern» to the cabinet over the minister's «unprofessional, even intimidating behavior in his private office.»
Another claimant claimed that Mr. Raab was «humiliating and aggressive» towards staff and that he behaved «so badly and inappropriately» at the previous high-level meeting that the Permanent Secretary had to contact senior officials to express regret.
Lord MacDonald, the former permanent secretary of the Foreign Office, said staff members were «afraid to go into his office» because of his «controlling» demeanor.
He said: «It was the language, it was the tone, he would be very brief with people. And he did it in front of a lot of other people.»
Lord Macdonald said people felt humiliated that Mr. Raab «didn't know the consequences of his behavior and he couldn't be made to see the impact ”.
Andrew Marr: 'Do you think the characterization of Dominic Raab as a person who could intimidate and around whom intimidation took place is credible?'
Former Foreign Secretary Sir Simon MacDonald: ' ;Yes' pic.twitter.com/YacySZlTcI
— LBC (@LBC) November 14, 2022
Others said he created a «culture of fear» in the DOJ, was «very rude and aggressive» and «was not just unprofessional, he was a bully.»
This was also claimed by government officials. were suspended for an extended period of time in the department, and that some officials were allegedly in tears after speaking with Mr. Raab or his team.
After he was notified, Mr. Sunak agreed with Mr. Raab's request for an independent investigation of Mr. Tolly's complaints.
Responding to questions from the Prime Minister, Mr. Raab said he would «completely reject and refute» the allegations against him. He said he «never tolerated bullying», telling MPs, «I'm sure I behaved professionally the whole time.» p>Two specific formal complaints were soon joined by a third, and in mid-December Downing Street said the investigation would consider five more complaints about Mr Raab's behavior, bringing the total to eight.
In February, Dave Penman, leader of the FDA union representing government employees, urged the prime minister to remove Mr. Raab from office while the allegations are investigated.
One former minister who worked under Mr. Raab at the Foreign Office said his use of the term «JM» to his junior ministers summed up his «patronizing» attitude.
The minister added: «I would didn't call him a bully, and I never saw him throw fruits or vegetables. But he showed no respect. He had his own schedule, he would only like a one-pager, since he had a lot to do. He did not understand the details and only dealt with boxes.
“He had to go to the gym every day. He is a man of routine and habit, who will not think anything about going to the gym for an hour a day. He would say things like, «I'll only do the box every day for a certain amount of time.»
«So his management style left a lot to be desired. Liz, coming to work in the department, was a breath of fresh air for her.”
All the way, Mr. Sunak stuck to his senior ally, spending precious political capital, which he did not intend to spend on Sir Gavin or Mr. on Zahavi.
But in February, he was forced to say he would fire Mr. Raab if the report found that he had bullied people. He said he «would not hesitate to take swift and decisive action» if he did not act «with the integrity or standards that I expected.»
Later that month, Mr. Raab vowed: «If the prosecution in bullying will be confirmed, I will resign. He also dismissed calls for him to stand aside during the investigation and stated that he was «innocent until proven guilty.»
On Thursday morning, after months of speculation, Mr. Sunak finally received Mr. Tolley's report.
p>
He spent most of the day locked up in Downing Street, pondering his findings. But on the same day, they confirmed that the decision would not be announced on that day.
By Friday morning, the die was cast. Mr. Raab said that he considered it his duty to accept the results of the investigation, while noting that it rejected all but two of the claims brought against him.
He said he thought the two «bad conclusions» were wrong and set a dangerous precedent for good government behavior.
He said it would jeopardize the ability of ministers to exercise «direct oversight» of senior officials, especially if they violate mandates agreed by Cabinet.
Second, he said that ministers should be able to provide direct critical feedback on briefings and presentations to senior officials in order to set standards and carry out public sector reform.
What particularly upset him, he pointed out, were the leaks he called the statements of civil servants “distorted and fabricated” in violation of the rules of investigation and the civil service code of conduct.
In particular, he noted that Mr. Tolli found that in four and six months he had not swearing, not yelling, let alone throwing anything or otherwise intimidating or intentionally humiliating anyone.
There was an apology in which he said he was «genuinely sorry» for any unintentional stress or humiliation experienced by any officials.
But this was conditioned by his enduring feeling that the «pace, standards and challenge» he brought to the Justice Department was in the best interests of good government.
“This is what the public expects from ministers working on their behalf,” he said.
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