FORMER deputy prime minister Dominic Raab has resigned after an inquiry found he had acted in an “intimidating” and “aggressive” way with officials.
The 47-page report by Adam Tolley KC examined a number of incidents spanning the former minister’s tenure as foreign secretary, justice secretary and Brexit secretary.
But what were the allegations? And what was and wasn't upheld?
‘Disciplinary threat’
Raab was accused of conveying a threat which had a “significant adverse effect” on a member of staff while working at the foreign office.
He was said to have suggested those involved on a project had breached the Civil Service Code.
Senior diplomat Sir Philip Barton gave evidence that he later had a “private meeting” with Raab to warn him not to threaten staff with the code. Raab disputed that the meeting had taken place.
Finding: Tolley found Raab had conveyed a threat and should have known his reference to the code would be perceived as such. He did not intend to threaten anyone with disciplinary action, but should have known how his comments would be interpreted.
‘Banging tables and hand-waving’
Colleagues alleged Raab’s “physical gestures” were used in a threatening way. Loud banging on tables and finger-pointing were among these complaints.
In one extreme case, he was said to have extended his hand towards someone’s face to stop them from talking.
Finding: Tolley found there was “scope for misunderstanding” and that the then-minister had not intended to be threatening.
‘Intimidating meetings’
While at the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), Raab was said to have complained about a lack of “the basics” or “basic information”.
He was said to have been “intimidating” and “insulting” on a number of occasions in meetings.
Finding: Tolley found in the complainant’s favour. Raab displayed “unreasonably and persistently aggressive” conduct in a meeting. He made comments which were likely to “humiliate” and be interpreted as “unfairly personal criticism”, the report said.
‘Perverse culture of fear’
A second group complaint at the MoJ described a “perverse culture of fear” and unreasonable work deadlines.
Finding: Tolley said the staff had “no ulterior agenda” but the nature of the evidence made it “unsuitable” grounds for a finding of fact
‘Shouting and swearing'
Raab was not found to have shouted or sworn at colleagues on any occasion.
‘Woeful’ and ‘useless’ insults
Raab claimed there was “cultural resistance” to his flagship Bill of Rights and policies on parole reform in the Ministry of Justice.
When frustrated that one of his “steers” about a proposed reform was not implemented, he was said to have described the work as “utterly useless” and “woeful”.
Finding: Tolley found in the favour of the complaint. He said: “On balance, I think that these were the words used; they comprised criticism that was not in the nature of constructive feedback. They were reasonably understood as insulting personal criticism."
Will Downing Street agree to a wider inquiry into ministerial bullying?
No, they've already ruled it out.
FDA general secretary Dave Penman had warned that misconduct by senior members of the UK Government is more widespread than Prime Minister Rishi Sunak wants to admit as he called for a wider probe into ministerial behaviour.
Penman, who made the call following Raab’s resignation, complained of the “inadequacy of a process that relies solely on the Prime Minister of the day to enforce standards”.
“This demonstrates that Raab is not just one bad apple, and there is a wider problem with ministerial bullying than the Prime Minister wants to admit,” he said.
The PM’s official spokesman said an independent inquiry into ministerial bullying was not being considered.
While a broader review is not being considered, he confirmed that Sunak had asked the Cabinet Office to look at how Government “can better learn to handle some of the issues that this report has raised, in terms of how concerns about working practices are raised in a timely manner and how they are dealt with”.
“I think that is in the interest of both civil servants and ministers.”
In his letter to Raab, Sunak told his former deputy that he believed there had been "shortcomings" in the bullying probe.
