By Ben Kerrigan-
Dominic Raab’s career is in limbo following serious bullying allegations about which the prime minister postponed a judgment on the future of the former Minster of Justice future on Thursday.
Mr Raab was investigated by lawyer Adam Tolley KC over eight formal complaints about his behaviour as foreign secretary, Brexit secretary, and during his first stint as justice secretary.
Prime minister Rishi Sunak was expected to make a decision on Mr. Raab’s career, but has asked for more time to consider his political fate.
Government sources suggested that Raab wanted to be allowed to stay on as deputy prime minister and justice secretary despite the expected damning findings from the five-month inquiry into claims of bullying by civil servants.
Rishi Sunak spent hours on Thursday afternoon examining the report by Adam Tolley KC, which has not concluded whether Raab broke the ministerial code, leaving the final decision to the prime minister.
One of the most serious complaints was made by Gina Miller who said that Raab swore at a young staff member of the BBC. The prominent anti-Brexit activist claimed that she saw Mr Raab tell the man to “go get me a f***ing car”. The alleged incident took place after Ms Miller and Mr Raab appeared together on the Radio 4 Today show in 2016.
Bullying complaints in Westminster has historically been one of the most shocking and disappointing realities, given the expected high standing of parliamentarians, who should be models of good conduct.
Senior Conservative MPs privately accused Sunak of “dithering” – a criticism also levelled by Labour and the Liberal Democrats. Government insiders were said to be bracing to issue a swift announcement about Raab’s removal or resignation on Thursday, and also took the lack of a decision by Sunak as a sign of hesitation.
Sunak’s spokesperson said on Thursday that he continued to have confidence in Raab, but was “carefully considering” the document.
Angela Rayner, Labour’s deputy leader, used the row to paint Sunak as being focused on his own political predicament instead of the pressing issues facing the public.
She said: “While the prime minister dithers and delays, trying to summon up the guts to sack his own deputy, working people are battling the worst cost of living crisis for a generation – food bills and mortgage rates are rising, wages are stagnating, and too many of us are waiting months and even years for health treatment.
One person involved in the process has described the review as “devastating”, while a senior government official said Mr Raab was “toast”, according to the Financial Times.
Raab was also once accused of screaming at BBC staff member after an interview with the broadcaster, an allegation that is not yet known to have been fully investigated.
Mr Raab, who has previously said he will quit if the bullying claims are proven, has insisted he believes “heart and soul” that he is not a bully, but defended his “forthright” approach to his work.