Moment of truth looms for Dominic Raab: Bullying report into deputy PM could come as soon as TODAY as Tories urge Rishi Sunak to defend him over disputed claims – but officials ‘threaten to quit’ if he’s cleared
- The Cabinet minister is being probed over his behaviour towards civil servants
Dominic Raab is facing a moment of truth with a report into bullying claims due as early as today.
The Deputy PM is waiting to learn his fate following the probe by top barrister Adam Tolley KC over his treatment of Whitehall officials.
Mr Tolley is expected to hand his findings to Rishi Sunak imminently, although it is understood the report had not reached Downing Street as of this morning.
Mr Sunak will take the final decision – but is facing pressure from all sides. Some Cabinet ministers are urging the premier to stand behind his deputy, while officials are said to be ready to quit if he remains in post.
Mr Raab has denied wrongdoing, and his determination to defend his reputation was underlined by the latest register of ministerial interests.
The document published yesterday stated that Mr Raab ‘has engaged lawyers at his own expense’ in relation to the barrister’s inquiry.
Dominic Raab (right) is facing a moment of truth with Rishi Sunak (left) due to receive a report into bullying claims due as early as today
Mr Raab is continuing to be probed by top barrister Adam Tolley KC over his treatment of Whitehall officials
Mr Raab, who is also Justice Secretary, has previously said he is ‘confident’ he behaved ‘in a professional way’ throughout his time in various ministerial roles.
He is facing eight formal complaints about his behaviour, which reportedly involve multiple accusers, from across his time at the Ministry of Justice, Foreign Office and Department for Exiting the EU.
One Cabinet minister told Talk TV that Mr Sunak should ‘stand by’ Mr Raab.
‘We can’t just throw our own people to the dogs because the civil service say so,’ they added.
But there are reports that senior Ministry of Justice officials could quit if Mr Raab is cleared of the allegations.
A decision not to sanction him would be ‘demoralising’ for staff in the department, the Guardian quoted a source as saying.
Appearing on ITV’s Peston show last night night, former Tory chair Jake Berry said Mr Raab should already have been suspended pending the outcome.
‘It does seem to me quite wrong that when people are under these kinds of investigations of this type that they continue in their job,’ he said.
He added: ‘Whatever the outcome is… I actually think there’s a fundamental rethink required about how we deal with these sorts of allegations, both in Government made against ministers and made against Members of Parliament.
‘It’s a massively outdated system that isn’t what our constituents would expect of any of us.’
Mr Tolley’s probe into Mr Raab began in November amid lurid allegations about his treatment of civil servants.
This included the claim, which Mr Raab denies, that he once hurled tomatoes from a Pret A Manger salad across a table in a fit of rage.
It is expected the barrister, described as ‘an encyclopaedia of employment law’, will present a factual report to the PM.
Mr Sunak will then have to take a decision as to whether Mr Raab can continue as a Cabinet minister.
Downing Street has previously stressed that Mr Sunak is the ultimate ‘arbiter’ on whether there has been a breach of ministerial rules.
The latest register of ministerial interests states the Deputy PM ‘has engaged lawyers at his own expense’ in relation to the inquiry
