By Ben Kerrigan-
Rishi Sunak has asked for the investigation into alleged bullying by Dominic Raab to be expanded to include a third formal complaint.
Earlier this week, No 10 confirmed a lawyer would investigate two complaints about Mr Raab.
AD: Capeesh Restaurant
Now it says a new claim relating to Mr Raab’s behaviour as Brexit secretary in 2018 will also be examined.
Mr Raab, who is both the justice secretary and deputy prime minister, has denied any allegations of bullying.
He has insisted he “behaved professionally at all times” and that he looks forward to dealing with the complaints “transparently rather than dealing with anonymous comments in the media”.
AD: Oysterian Sea Food Restaurant And Bar
The government appointed lawyer Adam Tolley KC to “establish the specific facts” about two formal complaints that have been lodged about Mr Raab’s conduct when he was foreign secretary and justice secretary, during Boris Johnson’s premiership.
The lawyer will report to Mr Sunak, who will make the final judgement on whether Mr Raab’s conduct breached the ministerial code.
Mr Raab was sacked as justice secretary and deputy prime minister by former PM Liz Truss when she took power in September.
There is now a coordinated effort by former private secretaries of Mr Raab to ensure their allegations are heard as part of the investigation.
Private secretaries work in the private office of government ministers on the day-to-day running of the department, including managing the minister’s diary and advising on policy matters.
Of these complaints, some have already been submitted formally to government departments, while others are being readied.
Labour’s deputy leader Angela Rayner said: “There must be no hint of a whitewash when it comes to the slew of serious allegations the deputy prime minister now faces.”
Responding to reporters’ questions on Friday, a No 10 spokesperson said: “I can confirm that the prime minister has now asked the investigator to add a further formal complaint relating to conduct at the Department for Exiting the European Union and to establish the facts in line with the existing terms of reference.”
The spokesperson said the complaint was received on Wednesday and Mr Sunak asked for it to become part of the formal investigation on Thursday evening.
However, Mr Raab has argued his use of private emails did not breach the rules, and that the ministerial code allows for it to be done in some circumstances.
“I’ve always taken advice on the right means, particularly having been foreign secretary and dealing with a whole range of sensitive issues, I’ve always been very careful to protect the integrity of any communications I had,” he said.
Asked if he had been warned by civil servants not to use his own phone for government business, he replied: “No.”
Liberal Democrats Chief Whip Wendy Chamberlain said the Cabinet Office should “determine immediately if overseas enemies could have seen national secrets sent by Dominic Raab”.
A Downing Street spokesman said: “Ministers are able to use various forms of communication. As long as they take heed of that guidance, there is not a binary restriction on use of personal email addresses.”
AD: Heritage And Restaurant Lounge Bar