Raab faces probe over complaints
DOMINIC Raab will face an investigation into two formal complaints against him after the Prime Minister agreed to his request for an independent inquiry.
The Deputy Prime Minister confirmed on Wednesday that two separate complaints had been made about his conduct, as he asked Rishi Sunak to open an independent investigation into the allegations.
Mr Sunak told the Justice Secretary that “integrity, professionalism and accountability are core values of this Government” and in a letter to his deputy said that an investigation was the “right course of action”.
Mr Raab has been facing a series of allegations he bullied officials and deployed rude and demeaning behaviour in previous Cabinet roles.
He tweeted on Wednesday that he had “written to the Prime Minister to request an independent investigation into two formal complaints made against me”.
“I look forward to addressing these complaints, and continuing to serve as Deputy Prime Minister, Justice Secretary, and Lord Chancellor,” he said.
Mr Sunak, in Indonesia at the G20 summit, appeared to continue to stand by Mr Raab.
In his letter to the Prime Minister, Mr Raab said: “I have just been notified that two separate complaints have formally been made against me, in parallel, from my time as foreign secretary and my first tenure as justice secretary, which ended in September of this year.
“I am, therefore, writing to request that you commission an independent investigation into the claims as soon as possible. I will co-operate fully and respect whatever outcome you decide.”
The Conservative MP for Esher and Walton
told Mr Sunak he had “never tolerated bullying, and always sought to reinforce and empower the teams of civil servants working in my respective departments”.
Top Ministry of Justice officials had reportedly ruled there must be a senior civil servant in the room at all meetings involving Mr Raab due to the recent allegations, according to The Guardian yesterday.
The newspaper also reported that Philip Rycroft, the former permanent secretary to the Department for Exiting the European Union, raised concerns about Mr Raab’s behaviour during his time as Brexit secretary with the then-cabinet secretary Mark Sedwill.
Mr Raab was also reportedly warned about his behaviour towards officials while he was foreign secretary.