Dozens of witnesses have provided testimony in the final stages of an investigation into allegations of bullying against Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary Dominic Raab. The investigation, which is being led by senior attorney Adam Tolley KC, is expected to be concluded shortly, and its report will be made public.
At least twenty-four complainants are involved in eight formal complaints regarding Mr. Raab’s tenure at three government departments. The complaints concern Mr. Raab’s tenures as justice secretary and foreign secretary under Boris Johnson and as Brexit secretary under Theresa May.
Former coworkers of Mr. Raab have discussed their time working with him. Some have described his behaviour as “belittling” and “humiliating,” claiming he had a “switch personality” and frequently “made a staff member cry” when dissatisfied with their work. On the other hand, some have described him as “super nice” and “perceptive” and have nothing but praise for him.
Mr. Raab has vehemently denied the allegations against him, and upon learning of the investigation, he stated that he was certain he was not a bully. He has stated that he will resign if he is found to have been a bully, a determination that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will make when the facts are presented to him.
Mr. Raab, according to the deputy prime minister’s spokesperson, has been “very clear” that he has always acted with professionalism and integrity, that he has never yelled or sworn, and that he has enjoyed strong working relationships with a variety of exceptional civil servants.
As the investigation nears its conclusion, it remains to be seen whether Mr. Raab will be vindicated or shown to have violated ministerial rules on bullying.
The conclusion of an independent investigation into allegations of bullying against Dominic Raab, the Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of Justice, is imminent. Adam Tolley KC, a senior attorney, is leading the investigation into eight formal complaints from Mr. Raab’s time at three government departments, involving at least twenty-four complainants. Dozens more individuals have testified as witnesses for the investigation.
Mr. Raab’s former colleagues have provided conflicting accounts of his behaviour during his time in government. Some have described his behaviour as “belittling” and “humiliating,” claiming that he frequently “made a staff member cry” when dissatisfied with their work. Others have only had positive things to say about him, describing him as “extremely kind” and “perceptive.”
Mr. Raab has vehemently denied the allegations made against him, stating that he has always acted professionally and with integrity, and that he enjoys strong working relationships with a variety of outstanding public servants. He has stated that he will resign if he is found to have violated ministerial rules regarding bullying.
The investigation report will be made public, and it is up to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to determine whether or not Mr. Raab is guilty. It remains to be seen whether the investigation will exonerate Mr. Raab or reveal that he violated ministerial rules regarding bullying.
