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Here's what's been happening in London this week...
Another one bites the dust
Dominic Raab resigned as deputy prime minister and justice secretary on Friday following the conclusion of a probe into bullying allegations.
Raab’s letter appeared to suggest he felt he had done nothing wrong, claiming the bullying threshold was set “so low” it would set a “dangerous precedent”.
But a 47-page report by Adam Tolley KC accused him 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.
Tolley found Raab had conveyed a threat and should have known his reference to the code would be perceived as such. The report said he did not intend to threaten anyone with disciplinary action, but should have known how his comments would be interpreted.
While at the Ministry of Justice, 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.
Tolley said Raab displayed “unreasonably and persistently aggressive” conduct in a meeting and he made comments which were likely to “humiliate” and be interpreted as “unfairly personal criticism”.
Raab has been replaced as DPM by Oliver Dowden while Alex Chalk has been named as the new Justice Secretary.
Rishi Sunak claimed there were “shortcomings” in the probe.
Tory peer pitches 'devo reverse'
Former Brexit negotiator Lord David Frost urged Tory ministers, in an article for The Telegraph, that if they are “re-elected” they should “review and roll back some currently devolved powers” in light of the issues currently facing the SNP.
Humza Yousaf later told The National it was “part of a wider pattern” of the Tories trying to interfere with Scottish democracy.
Frost wrote: “Scotland does not need to be an independent actor on the world stage; it should not be able to legislate to disrupt free trade within the UK; and it does not need to have most tax raising powers currently available to it.”
GRR block not ‘last resort’
Scotland’s Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said Westminster repeatedly refused to explore ways to avoid blocking the Gender Recognition Reform Bill when she set out the Scottish Government’s reasons for challenging the move.
She said the Edinburgh administration had “no option” but to take the UK Government to court over the unprecedented block – rejecting London’s claims the veto had been used as a “last resort”.
Somerville claimed the UK Government had “explicitly endorsed” the Scottish Government’s plans to change the law in meetings before MSPs voted to pass the legislation.
Sick threat to benefits claimant
The Minister for Disabled People stated the Department for Work and Pensions will “track you down, find you and bring you to justice” in a concerning video about tackling fraud.
Tom Pursglove was videoed on a police raid carried out by both the DWP Serious Organised Crime Team and the Metropolitan Police to apprehend “fraudsters who cheated our benefits system”.
The minister appeared wearing a bulletproof-style vest and the footage also showed police cars and handcuffs, while he threatened to find people who had committed benefit fraud.
Some viewers described the short video as “disgusting”.
AOB
There was an awkward moment for Keir Starmer mid-week when he was accused of “working in the shadows against Scottish democracy” at – that’s right – the STUC Congress. A motion was tabled condemning his sacking of former Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard which he boasted about in The Times earlier this month.
A top Labour MP was forced to apologise after calling First Minister Yousaf “Muhammad” on live TV. Speaking on Sky News, shadow Northern Ireland secretary Peter Kyle was asked by presenter Niall Paterson about his views on whether Yousaf should suspend Nicola Sturgeon.
