Calls for Dominic Raab to step down amid bullying claims
Dominic Raab is becoming a “distraction” over bullying claims and should step down, two former Cabinet ministers said on Monday.
Formal complaints about Mr Raab’s behaviour towards civil servants and officials across several government departments are the subject of an inquiry by Adam Tolley KC, a senior lawyer.
But former ministers fear the ongoing investigation into the Deputy Prime Minister could do further damage to Rishi Sunak’s premiership after the sacking of Nadhim Zahawi last week.
If the allegations - which Mr Raab denies - were to be upheld, Mr Sunak would be faced with the prospect of sacking a second senior Cabinet member within a short space of time.
While no deadline has been set by No 10, Mr Tolley's report could arrive as soon as next month.
“It just seems to me to be a repeat of the Nadhim Zahawi situation, where it is inevitable that he will be asked to leave the Government,” one former Cabinet minister told The Telegraph.
“So why prolong the pain? I think it would be right for Dominic to stand down.”
A second added: “His position is becoming more and more difficult. If the Prime Minister is to show his commitment to integrity, Dominic Raab should go while the case is being investigated. He is another distraction.”
Mr Raab has been under investigation since November and it is the latest in a series of high-profile sleaze scandals to hit Mr Sunak’s Government.
Another former frontbencher did not call for him to resign immediately, but said: “If the report fairly finds that [Raab] is guilty of bullying, then I don’t think the Prime Minister will have any choice.”
Nigel Mills, the Conservative MP for Amber Valley, said: “If this is kind of unintentional and he's in a high pressure job and he lost his temper once or twice, that probably wouldn't be bullying.
“I think it's so hard to know until you know exactly what he's accused of. If he is a repeated serious bully, I’m not sure that is something you could survive, and I’m not sure it’s something you should survive in a senior role either.”
Allies of Mr Raab insisted he had not been distracted by the investigation and pointed to his recent achievements at the Ministry of Justice, including a new 24/7 support service for victims of rape and engagement with Strasbourg over human rights laws.
They pointed to his commitment to answering all of the claims made as part of the process, which is ongoing.
In a statement in the House of Commons at the end of last year, Mr Raab told MPs he would “rebut and refute” the anonymous claims made against him.
One supportive MP suggested his departure before Mr Tolley reached any conclusions would represent a step into “very, very dangerous territory”.
