Closing summary
The blog is closing for the day and will be back on Sunday morning. Here is what you might have missed:
Simon McDonald has denied Dominic Raab’s claims there were civil service “activists” in the Foreign Office and said those who worked under the former minister “worked very hard for him”. Lord McDonald was permanent under-secretary under Raab when he was foreign secretary and worked closely with the former deputy prime minister. McDonald told the BBC’s Today programme that he disagreed with his former boss and said there was no “separate civil service agenda” and he saw no evidence of a “group of activists trying to undermine a minister”.
The general secretary of the FDA has said Raab is setting a “dangerous” precedent by accusing civil servants involved in his bullying investigation of acting on political grounds, and called on the prime minister, Rishi Sunak, to “intervene”.
Lord Kerslake, the former head of the civil service, has described Raab’s claims that “activist civil servants” blocked his work as “absurd”. He added that the resignation letter was “pretty graceless” and “in some instances malevolent”.
Munira Wilson, MP for the Liberal Democrats, had said Raab is “unfit to be a minister” and has called for him to stand down as an MP. The party’s education spokesperson added that a byelection should take place so that constituents in Raab’s current seat of Esher and Walton can elect someone “who treats people with respect”.
Hugo Swire, a Tory peer, said he thought Raab was “too big a talent” not to be back “in some capacity” following his resignation over bullying accusations. Lord Swire told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “I think to lose somebody who has been a justice secretary, a lord chancellor, deputy prime minister and foreign secretary at this stage is very unwise.”
Labour MP Andrew Gwynne has said it is never acceptable for ministers to “bully”, “intimidate” or “harass” members of the civil service. He told BBC Breakfast that if Raab was having issues with “activist” civil servants, he should have raised it with the permanent secretary at the Foreign Office.
Rishi Sunak has chaired a meeting of Cobra today after the head of the Sudanese army said the UK would evacuate diplomats and nationals currently trapped in Sudan by the outbreak of fighting. The prime minister held the meeting this morning, with the defence secretary, Ben Wallace, and Africa minister, Andrew Mitchell, also in attendance, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) confirmed.
Former US president Donald Trump is to visit Ireland next month. It will come just weeks after his successor Joe Biden took part in a four-day visit to the island of Ireland. There is speculation the two men who went head to head in the 2020 US presidential election could again be candidates in 2024.
SNP MP Stuart McDonald has been appointed as party treasurer after the resignation of Colin Beattie. Beattie stepped down on Tuesday after he was arrested and released without charge pending further investigation into the party’s finances. McDonald, MP for Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East, is a former lawyer.
Updated
Doreen Lawrence has said her son Stephen’s “story remains as important and relevant as ever”, at a central London memorial service to mark the 30th anniversary of the teenager’s killing.
The murder victim’s family gathered for the anniversary at St Martin-in-the-Fields church in Trafalgar Square on Saturday, with the Labour leader, Keir Starmer, and the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, also in attendance.
Lady Lawrence said she was “filled with immense pride to witness all that has been achieved in his name”.
Read more: Doreen Lawrence: Stephen’s story ‘as important and relevant as ever’
The Daily Express is reporting that Dominic Rabb could be offered a spot as a television presenter on GB News.
A senior source at the rightwing news channel, told the newspaper:
He would do very well for us and it is rare that somebody of his calibre comes along.
Jacob [Rees-Mogg] is already very popular with our viewers as are Esther and Philip.
He would be a good fit for us.
GB News is already a popular haven for Tory MPs as Esther McVey and Philip Davies have a weekly show and Jacob Rees-Mogg and Lee Anderson are also presenters.
Updated
Jacob Rees-Mogg has described Dominic Raab’s resignation as “unnecessary” and questioned if a British ambassador at the centre of the bullying complaints is a “wet wipe”.
Asked about Raab’s resignation by Sky News, the Tory MP said:
I think it’s unnecessary and, has come out today, I think it becomes clearer that is was unnecessary.
The main complaint that was upheld relates to an ambassador, an extraordinarily senior figure who was deliberately going against government policy in Gibraltar, an issue of the highest sensitivity.
And all that seems that Mr Raab did was raise the civil service code, which wasn’t being followed.
Rees-Mogg added that one of the main complainants in the investigation against Raab is an ambassador, a job that requires you to have a “backbone”.
You can’t intimidate an ambassador. Or if you can the ambassador’s no good.
Ambassador’s have to have a backbone to represent the country abroad. This is really important. Is our ambassador a complete wet wipe?
Former leader of the House of Commons Jacob Rees-Mogg tells @skynewsSam that Dominic Raab's resignation was "unnecessary", adding Prime Minister Rishi Sunak "should have encouraged him to stay".
— Sky News (@SkyNews) April 22, 2023
Latest: https://t.co/oFA3bbbjSD
📺 Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 and YouTube pic.twitter.com/DcfRhTB16h
.@skynewsSam challenges Jacob Rees-Mogg over the Dominic Raab bullying report.
— Sky News (@SkyNews) April 22, 2023
The former leader of the House of Commons asks "is our ambassador a complete wet wipe?" before adding "I'm probably a bit of a wet wipe myself".https://t.co/oFA3bbbjSD
📺 Sky 501 and YouTube pic.twitter.com/IIQ3i63XwR
Updated
The Guardian’s latest editorial examines Dominic Raab’s departure.
In the paper’s view, Raab’s resignation “is significant in that it heralds the changing of the guard in the Tory party.”
An excerpt says:
Rather than accepting responsibility for his behaviour, Mr Raab claimed in his missive that the inquiry would “have a chilling effect on those driving change on behalf of government – and ultimately the British people”.
His opinion piece in the Daily Telegraph went further, alluding to a conspiracy of “unionised officials” threatening to bring down ministers. Mr Raab jumped before he was pushed out by the prime minister.
Rishi Sunak’s pledge last October that he would run an administration that “will have integrity, professionalism and accountability at every level” would have been rendered empty if he had kept on a bully as his deputy.
Read more: The Guardian view on Dominic Raab’s resignation: an ungracious departure
Rishi Sunak chairs emergency Cobra meeting over Sudan crisis
Rishi Sunak has chaired a meeting of Cobra today after the head of the Sudanese army said the UK would evacuate diplomats and nationals currently trapped in Sudan by the outbreak of fighting.
The prime minister held the meeting this morning, with the defence secretary, Ben Wallace, and Africa minister, Andrew Mitchell, also in attendance, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) confirmed.
A government spokesperson said: “We recognise that the situation is extremely concerning for British nationals trapped by the fighting in Sudan.
“We are doing everything possible to support British nationals and diplomatic staff in Khartoum, and the Ministry of Defence is working with the Foreign Office to prepare for a number of contingencies.”
The US, France and China are also set to remove their nationals, according to a statement on Saturday citing Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the leader of the Sudanese armed forces (SAF) and the nation’s de facto ruler.
It said Burhan had agreed to facilitate the evacuation of a number of diplomats and nationals from multiple countries.
Read more: UK, US and others prepare to evacuate nationals from Sudan
Updated
The World Medical Association (WMA) has expressed “grave concern” about the UK government’s proposal to allow ministers to disregard interim measures issued by the European court of human rights in relation to the treatment of migrants.
At their council meeting in Nairobi, Kenya, physician leaders of the WMA said the association was committed to the principle of respect for international law and warned the UK’s stance could set a “dangerous precedent”.
They voted unanimously for an emergency resolution which warned:
If enacted, this legislation would remove an important protection for people seeking asylum, other migrants and those health workers caring for them.
Rule 39 interim measures have prevented the forced removal of asylum seekers from the UK to Rwanda, under a controversial offshoring scheme that the UK medical community has condemned on medical, ethical and humanitarian grounds.
Human rights are only meaningful and effective if they are applied equally to everyone. Given the key role of the United Kingdom in drafting the European convention on human rights, this creates a dangerous precedent that other nations might seek to follow.
Updated
SNP MP Stuart McDonald has been appointed as party treasurer after the resignation of Colin Beattie.
Beattie stepped down on Tuesday after he was arrested and released without charge pending further investigation into the party’s finances.
McDonald, MP for Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East, is a former lawyer.
He was selected by the party’s national executive committee on Saturday morning and will remain in the post until the SNP annual conference, PA News reports.
McDonald acknowledged it was a “difficult and challenging time” amid the police investigation into how more than £600,000 of party donations earmarked for independence campaigning was spent.
He added:
I look forward to getting on with the job of national treasurer to help take forward the important work being led by our new party leader, Humza Yousaf, to improve the SNP’s governance and transparency.
I’ve no hesitation in stepping forward when asked to do my part in keeping our party firmly on a campaign footing as the case for Scottish independence becomes more compelling than ever.
Former US president Donald Trump is to visit Ireland next month, PA reports.
It will come just weeks after his successor Joe Biden took part in a four-day visit to the island of Ireland.
There is speculation the two men who went head to head in the 2020 US presidential election could again be candidates in 2024.
Mr Trump has owned the Trump International Hotel & Golf Links on the outskirts of Doonbeg in Co Clare since 2014.
It has been indicated the resort expects the 76-year-old to land at Shannon Airport on 3 May for a stay.
The last time the former president visited Ireland in 2019 he was still in office.
There were some protests during that visit, but Trump and his sons Eric and Donald junior also received a warm welcome in Doonbeg.
Trump is currently facing court action in the United States and has pleaded not guilty to charges of falsifying business records to hide damaging information ahead of the 2016 presidential election.
Updated
The health secretary’s legal challenge against the Royal College of Nursing’s forthcoming strike is a “blatant threat”, the union’s leader has said.
Steve Barclay’s decision to refer to the courts, revealed on Friday, is the latest twist in the long-running saga over pay between nurses and the government.
Nurses are gearing up to strike from 8pm on 30 April until 8pm on 2 May, but the legality of the final day is currently in dispute – as it could fall out of the union’s six-month mandate.
The RCN general secretary, Pat Cullen, blasted the health secretary’s decision as “cruel” and “unacceptable” on Saturday morning.
Read more: RCN chief: legal action over nurses’ strikes is ‘blatant threat’
Labour MP Andrew Gwynne has said it is never acceptable for ministers to “bully”, “intimidate” or “harass” members of the civil service.
He told BBC Breakfast that if Dominic Raab was having issues with “activist” civil servants, he should have raised it with the permanent secretary at the Foreign Office.
The shadow public health minister said:
He [Raab] should have raised it with the permanent secretary of his department and it should have been dealt with by the permanent secretary in a professional way.
It is not the responsibility of the secretary of state or any other minister to belittle and bully and intimidate members of staff of the paid civil service because they think they have their own political motivations.
Former Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab has accused "activist civil servants" of trying to block the work of government, after his resignation over bullying claims.
— BBC Breakfast (@BBCBreakfast) April 22, 2023
Labour's Andrew Gwynne reacted on #BBCBreakfasthttps://t.co/q5f7mF1QKm pic.twitter.com/9ICR6oR7NE
Updated
Former top civil servant, Simon McDonald, has denied Dominic Raab’s claims there were civil service “activists” in the Foreign Office.
Lord McDonald was permanent secretary under Raab when he was foreign secretary and worked closely with the former deputy prime minister.
He told the BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that he disagreed with his former boss and said there was no ‘separate civil service agenda’
Updated
We have heard a lot from former ministers and civil servants reacting to the investigation and subsequent resignation of Dominic Raab.
But we are still yet to know the thoughts of his former boss, Rishi Sunak.
The prime minister wrote a letter response to Raab’s resignation (below), and we have comments from his spokesperson at No 10, however he is yet to make any public comments to the media.
NEW: Rishi Sunak says Raab has “kept his word” by resigning if report made “any findings of bullying whatsoever”.
— Pippa Crerar (@PippaCrerar) April 21, 2023
But adds there have been historic “shortcomings” in complaints process that have “negatively effected” everyone involved.
Rest of letter praises his record. pic.twitter.com/TMqTsesIQb
Raab unfit to be an MP, says Lib Dems' Munira Wilson
Munira Wilson, MP for the Liberal Democrats, had said Dominic Raab is “unfit to be a minister” and has called for him to stand down as an MP.
The party’s education spokesperson added that a byelection should take place so that constituents in Raab’s current seat of Esher and Walton can elect someone “who treats people with respect”.
On Raab’s behaviour and reaction to the investigation into his conduct, she told BBC Breakfast:
The lack of contrition is just staggering, the resignation letter has got to be up there with the history of graceless resignations.
And I think his attack on the civil service is deeply concerning and is frankly the sign of a bully when they blame the victims and everybody else around them, but themselves.
'It's the sign of a bully when they blame the victims and everybody else around them, but themselves'
— BBC Breakfast (@BBCBreakfast) April 22, 2023
Munira Wilson from the Liberal Democrats spoke to #BBCBreakfast about the resignation of Dominic Raab after a report into bullyinghttps://t.co/q5f7mF2ozU pic.twitter.com/0P7zXvoZpe
Updated
Dominic Raab, in his resignation statement, preferred to call it “direct critical feedback” and the “pace, standards and challenge” that he brought to his departments. His allies had previously defended him as someone who simply “expects people to be on their brief and puts them on the spot”.
But in his report, Adam Tolley KC found that at times the politician had gone beyond merely demanding high standards of his staff, including instances in which he was “intimidating” or acted in a way that was “unreasonably and persistently aggressive”.
So where does the line between “robustness” and bullying lie? While some conduct is very obviously unacceptable, experts acknowledge it is not always easy to judge when firm management crosses that line.
Read more: ‘Robustness’ or bullying: when does firm management cross the line?
Hugo Swire, a Tory peer, said he thought Dominic Raab was “too big a talent” not to be back “in some capacity” following his resignation over bullying accusations.
Lord Swire told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme:
I think to lose somebody who has been a justice secretary, a lord chancellor, deputy prime minister and foreign secretary at this stage is very unwise.
PA reports he recounted Raab’s time standing in for Boris Johnson while the former prime minister was ill with Covid-19, saying there “were no criticisms of that at all”.
He continued:
I think this is a career which has been brought prematurely to a temporary halt because I fundamentally believe that a talent such as Dominic will reappear in some place at some time.
It is the government’s loss. I think he will be back in some capacity.
I think he is too big a talent not to be.
Updated
A whistleblower who was sacked for highlighting Britain’s chaotic response to the fall of Kabul has expressed frustration at government attempts to have her legal challenge against her dismissal held in private.
Josie Stewart, a senior official, was fired from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) for giving an anonymous interview to the BBC about the failures in the handling of the Afghan withdrawal.
The Guardian revealed she is taking her treatment to employment tribunal to test legal protections for whistleblowers amid concerns there is insufficient protection for civil servants who disclose sensitive information in the public interest.
But the government is trying to ensure that all or part of these proceedings are held in private on national security grounds, under rule 94 of the employment tribunal rules.
Read more: Sacked Foreign Office whistleblower hits out at secrecy of tribunal hearing
PA reports that the general secretary of the FDA has said Dominic Raab is setting a “dangerous” precedent by accusing civil servants involved in his bullying investigation of acting on political grounds, and called on the prime minister, Rishi Sunak, to “intervene”.
Speaking about the former deputy prime minister, Dave Penman told Times Radio:
Though he was happy for a KC - who was Adam Tolley - to investigate, he just doesn’t like the result, and now he’s desperately trying to rescue his reputation, including (through) his spurious allegations about civil servants.
This is where we start to get into quite dangerous territory and really the Prime Minister should be starting to intervene, because what Raab’s now doing is he’s saying: ‘this wasn’t just about me, this was a politically motivated group of civil servants trying to block Government policy’.
Of course he provides no evidence to support that whatsoever in his desperate attempt to defend himself.
Penman accused ministers more generally of trying to “create a culture war of a ‘woke left civil service’ without any evidence”, describing the service as having “both hands tied behind its back unable to defend itself” due to impartiality rules.
He added that Sunak should “conduct a review of the entire process” of civil servants reporting their concerns about ministers.
Updated
Raab's anger at report does not invalidate findings - Lord McDonald
Simon McDonald added that Dominic Raab should “reflect” on the way he behaved.
He told the BBC’s Today Programme:
The fact is specific complaints were upheld. Mr Raab is now very angry that he has had to resign.
He does not like the results but that does not invalidate either the process or the result.
McDonald denied Raab’s claims that other ministers are at risk of having similar complaints made about them.
He said:
I believe ministers who treat their civil servants in the respectful way any boss should treat their colleagues will have absolutely nothing to fear.
Updated
Former top civil servant who worked under Raab dismisses 'activists' claim
Simon McDonald has denied Dominic Raab’s claims there were civil service “activists” in the Foreign Office and said those who worked under the former minister “worked very hard for him”.
Lord McDonald was permanent secretary under Raab when he was foreign secretary and worked closely with the former deputy prime minister.
McDonald told the BBC’s Today programme that he disagreed with his former boss and said there was no “separate civil service agenda” and he saw no evidence of a “group of activists trying to undermine a minister”.
Asked for his characterisation of Raab’s behaviour while he was at the Foreign Office, he said:
I witnessed a tough task master, I witnessed a minister who knew what he wanted to do, and frankly I witnessed somebody whose methods did not help him achieve what he wanted to do and that I raised with him more than once.
When McDonald raised these issues with Raab he said the characterisation was “disputed” by the MP for Esher and Walton.
McDonald added that the high threshold for submitting a formal complaint against ministers meant civil servants were reluctant to put their names to specific grievances.
Without that evidence, Mr Raab was able to deflect. He said, and in a way reasonably, ‘What is the evidence?’.
And without being able to present names and particular detailed instances, he resisted my representations.
Updated
Raab’s resignation probably represents the end of his frontline political career, with allies admitting he is expected to lose his marginal Surrey seat to the Liberal Democrats at the general election next year. Raab told the BBC he wanted to “let the dust settle a little bit” before making a decision about his future.
The departure of such a close political ally is a major blow to Sunak, who is facing questions over his judgment after civil servants flagged “issues” with Raab in his previous departments before the prime minister brought him back into government.
Sunak glossed over the substance of the complaints, while Downing Street only condemned the bullying of civil servants “in general terms” and refused to explicitly acknowledge that Raab had broken the ministerial code.
And here’s the PM’s response:
Dear Dominic,
Thank you for your letter notifying me of your decision to resign from your position in His Majesty’s Government as Deputy Prime Minister and Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice. It is with great sadness that I have accepted your resignation.
When I became Prime Minister in October last year, I pledged that the Government I lead would have integrity, professionalism and accountability at every level. The Ministerial Code requires ministers to uphold the highest standards.
When formal complaints about your conduct in different ministerial posts were submitted last year, I appointed at your request an independent investigator to conduct a full investigation into the specific facts surrounding these complaints. Adam Tolley KC has now submitted his report and I have carefully considered its findings, as well as consulting the Independent Adviser on Ministers’ Interests.
As you say, you had – rightly – undertaken to resign if the report made any finding of bullying whatsoever. You have kept your word. But it is clear that there have been shortcomings in the historic process that have negatively affected everyone involved. We should learn from this how to better handle such matters in future.
But your resignation should not make us forget your record of delivery in both this Government and previous administrations. These achievements should make you extremely proud.
Most recently as Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor, you have put the rights of victims at the heart of our criminal justice system through our landmark Victims and Prisoners Bill, as well as increasing sentences for violent criminals, reforming the probation system, and pushing forward the biggest prison-building programme this country has seen in over a century.
As Foreign Secretary, you were a major driving force of the 2021 Integrated Review, conceiving and delivering the Indo-Pacific tilt. I know the personal drive you also displayed to create the UK’s new independent sanctions regime and in our response to the undermining of human rights and democracy in Hong Kong.
During the Covid crisis, you stepped in when the then Prime Minister was hospitalised. You provided the country – and your Cabinet colleagues – with reassurance and leadership at a moment of profound national concern. As Chancellor at the time, I was struck by the collegiate way in which you handled this most difficult of challenges.
I will always be grateful for your steadfast personal support during last year’s Conservative Party leadership contest from the day you introduced me at the launch to the last day of the contest. The subsequent dedication, commitment and loyalty with which you have discharged your responsibilities as Deputy Prime Minister has been typical of your belief in public service.
I look forward to receiving your support from the backbenches as you continue to passionately represent your constituents of Esher and Walton. Thank you for your service to this and previous Governments and I wish you and your family every possible success for the future.
Yours Sincerely,
Rishi Sunak
If you missed it yesterday, here’s Raab’s resignation letter in full:
Dear Prime Minister,
I am writing to resign from your government, following receipt of the report arising from the inquiry conducted by Adam Tolley KC. I called for the inquiry and undertook to resign, if it made any finding of bullying whatsoever. I believe it is important to keep my word.
It has been a privilege to serve you as Deputy Prime Minister, Justice Secretary and Lord Chancellor. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to work as a minister in a range of roles and departments since 2015, and pay tribute to the many outstanding civil servants with whom I have worked.
Whilst I feel duty bound to accept the outcome of the inquiry, it dismissed all but two of the claims levelled against me. I also believe that its two adverse findings are flawed and set a dangerous precedent for the conduct of good government. First, ministers must be able to exercise direct oversight with respect to senior officials over critical negotiations conducted on behalf of the British people, otherwise the democratic and constitutional principle of ministerial responsibility will be lost. This was particularly true during my time as Foreign Secretary, in the context of the Brexit negotiations over Gibraltar, when a senior diplomat breached the mandate agreed by Cabinet.
Second, ministers must be able to give direct critical feedback on briefings and submissions to senior officials, in order to set the standards and drive the reform the public expect of us. Of course, this must be done within reasonable bounds. 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. I am genuinely sorry for any unintended stress or offence that any officials felt, as a result of the pace, standards and challenge that I brought to the Ministry of Justice. That is, however, what the public expect of ministers working on their behalf.
In setting the threshold for bullying so low, this inquiry has set a dangerous precedent. 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.
Finally, I raised with you a number of improprieties that came to light during the course of this 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, and the coercive removal by a senior official of dedicated private secretaries from my Ministry of Justice private office, in October of last year. I hope these will be independently reviewed.
I remain as supportive of you and this government, as when I first introduced you at your campaign leadership launch last July. You have proved a great Prime Minister in very challenging times, and you can count on my support from the backbenches.
Yours sincerely,
Dominic Raab
What the papers say
Let’s look at the reaction on the front pages.
We begin with the Guardian which says “Raab quits in fury”. It reports that the investigation by Adam Tolley KC cited “abuse of power”, but that Raab believes himself the victim of “activist civil servants” trying to block the Conservative government’s work.
Guardian front page, Saturday 22 April 2023: Raab quits in fury pic.twitter.com/5DS1FvzDBW
— The Guardian (@guardian) April 21, 2023
The Daily Telegraph has “Row over Spanish forces in Gibraltar sank Raab”. It says the report found Raab “bullied a British ambassador said to have secretly proposed putting Spanish boots on the ground in Gibraltar during Brexit talks”.
🗞 The front page of tomorrow's Daily Telegraph:
— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) April 21, 2023
'Row over Spanish forces in Gibraltar sank Raab'#TomorrowsPapersToday
Sign up for the Front Page newsletterhttps://t.co/x8AV4Oomry pic.twitter.com/ncjeuEkNGg
The Daily Express is sympathetic, regarding Raab as having been “Forced out for wanting best for Britain”, which it says was a matter of “unwavering determination” for him according to allies.
Saturday's @Daily_Express front page: Forced out for wanting best for Britain #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/xTKnEvT3qq
— Express Politics (@ExpressPolitics) April 21, 2023
Read more here:
Raab's 'activist civil servants' claim is 'absurd', says Lord Kerslake
Good morning. While Dominic Raab resigned as both deputy prime minister and justice secretary yesterday following the long-awaited report into his behaviour, he did so begrudgingly.
In his resignation letter to Rishi Sunak, Raab said the conclusions of the report created a “dangerous precedent” by setting the threshold for bullying “so low” that it could have a “chilling” effect on ministers trying to make changes.
The MP said he felt “duty bound” to resign, having undertaken to do so if the report found against him. He claimed that all but two of the eight complaints against him had been “dismissed”, but Adam Tolley KC found evidence of poor behaviour in six of them.
Later, in an interview with the BBC, he accused “activist civil servants” of trying to block his work, either because they were “over unionised” or because they did not agree with his policies.
However, Lord Kerslake, the former head of the civil service, has described those claims as “absurd” – adding that the resignation letter was “pretty graceless” and “in some instances malevolent”.
He told Radio 4’s PM programme:
I think it’s completely inaccurate, and I think it’s just one more line of attack to avoid taking responsibility for his actions.
He seems to lash out at everybody but doesn’t accept personal responsibility for any of his own behaviour, and I think the issue here he’s trying to turn it into - some kind of constitutional question of good government - simply doesn’t stand up.
You can read my colleague Pippa Crerar’s report on an extraordinary day here:
And we will bring you all the latest UK political developments as they happen right here throughout the day.
