Dominic Raab resigns as an MP

Last Friday, Dominic Raab wrote to the chairman of his local Conservative Association explaining his decision. Photo: Jordan Pettitt/PA

Dominic Raab to step down as an MP in the next general election, putting his parliamentary career on hold just a month after he left office due to intimidation from civil servants.

< p>The Telegraph saw an exchange of letters between the former deputy prime minister and the chairman of his local conservative association last Friday explaining his decision.

Mr Raab wrote: influences my young family.» His sons Peter and Joshua are 10 and 8 years old respectively.

The constituency that Mr Raab has represented since 2010, Esher and Walton in Surrey, is one of the main targets for the Liberal Democrats in the next elections to be held next year.

Mr Raab won the seat with just 2,743 votes in the 2019 election, which saw Boris Johnson win nationwide. With the Conservatives well behind Labor in the polls, victory looked much more difficult this time around.

Mr Raab is the latest in a growing number of prominent Conservative MPs to decide to leave Parliament in the next election.

< p>Other former cabinet ministers such as Sajid Javid and George Eustis are leaving, but so are Conservatives in their 30s and 40s, such as Chloe Smith and William Wragg.

This news marks the end of a parliamentary career that ended. saw Mr. Raab serve as Brexit Minister, Foreign Minister, Justice Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, with the latter two positions held under both Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak.

The departure, announced so quickly after he left Mr. Sunak's cabinet in connection with an investigation into his behavior towards officials, is sure to resurface the debate about how the saga played out.

Mr. Raab resigned from office but also vehemently criticized the process in his resignation. Investigative attorney Adam Tolly KC upheld two points last month allegations of bullying Mr. Raab: one about the behavior of the ambassador, accused of freelance work in the Gibraltar negotiations after Brexit, and the other about the treatment of officials of the Ministry of Justice.

In response, Mr. Raab resigned from the cabinet — he promised to do so if any allegation of intimidation was upheld — but also vehemently criticized the process in his resignation.

Mr. Raab then wrote: “In establishing the threshold of intimidation is so low that this investigation has set a dangerous precedent.

“This will encourage false complaints against ministers and will have a chilling effect on those making changes on behalf of your government – ​​and ultimately on the British people. .”

It's unclear what Raab, 49, plans to do next once he leaves the House of Commons. He was a prominent supporter of Mr. Sunak, but a return to cabinet before the election seemed unlikely.

Mr. Raab wrote to Peter Santo, chairman of the Escher and Walton Conservative Association, to announce his decision on 19 May.

Mr Raab said: “I am writing to inform you of my decision to step down at the next general election. It has been a great honor for me to represent the Conservatives since 2010 in this wonderful constituency. Thank you for your continued support and tireless efforts, and for all the teamwork and diligence put in by our excellent officers, advisors and members.

He later added in a letter: “I will continue to fulfill all my duties to my voters and give every support for the campaign so that we can win here next year, which I am sure we can do under the leadership of this prime minister.”

Mr. I am sorry to receive your letter of your intention to step down as our deputy in the next general election.

“Although I know that the Association fully supports you in remaining our candidate, I personally know what sacrifices have been made you and your family. Your dedication to the people of Esher and Walton has always been outstanding.

“I sincerely thank you for everything you have achieved, as well as for my unwavering friendship. My best wishes to you and your family.”