Dominic Raab has resigned as the UK’s deputy prime minister after an independent report into bullying claims against him upheld two of the allegations.
Raab, who was also justice secretary, on Friday morning saying he wanted to “keep his word” having promised to resign if the inquiry by employment lawyer Adam Tolley found evidence of any bullying.
But he added that the inquiry would undermine the ability of ministers to “exercise direct oversight” over civil service officials.
“In setting the threshold for bullying so low, this inquiry has set a dangerous precedent,” he wrote. “It will encourage spurious complaints against ministers and have a chilling effect on those driving change on behalf of your government — and ultimately the British people.”
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak commissioned Tolley last November to carry out the inquiry into complaints of bullying behaviour during Raab’s time as justice secretary and previously foreign secretary.
Tolley is understood to have examined eight formal complaints involving allegations by more than 20 officials.
Raab was one of Sunak’s closest allies in politics. He supported Sunak during his first leadership bid in the summer, when he lost to Liz Truss.
Raab said he remained supportive of Sunak and his government, describing him as a “great prime minister in very challenging times”.
But he complained about “a number of improprieties” during the course of the 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,” he said.
Raab apologised for any unintended stress or offence caused by what he described as the “pace, standards and challenge” he brought as a minister.
“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,” he wrote.
This is a developing story
