Rishi Sunak rejects claims that Dominic Raab bullied UK civil servants

Rishi Sunak on Monday rejected claims that Dominic Raab, his deputy prime minister, behaved inappropriately in direction of civil servants throughout his earlier stints as a cupboard minister.

Raab, who additionally serves as justice secretary, has confronted a sequence of allegations about his private conduct, together with that he acted in a “impolite” and “aggressive” manner in direction of civil servants throughout his earlier time period on the Ministry of Justice between September 2021 and September 2022.

Chatting with reporters en path to the G20 summit in Indonesia, the prime minister mentioned: “I don’t recognise that characterisation of Dominic and I’m not conscious of any formal complaints about him. In fact there are established procedures for civil servants in the event that they need to deliver to mild any points.”

Sunak added that he was “not conscious” of any formal criticism about Raab’s behaviour.

However based on an ITV information report on Sunday, eight individuals who labored in Raab’s non-public workplace throughout his tenure as overseas secretary from 2019 to 2021 mentioned in an nameless survey that they’d been bullied or harassed.

The survey discovered that, in 2019, 40 per cent of Raab’s non-public workplace workers reported experiences of bullying and harassment. It additionally mentioned Antonia Romeo, everlasting secretary on the Ministry of Justice, had spoken to Raab about his behaviour.

Requested concerning the ITV report, Sunak mentioned: “My understanding is that these surveys are annual and relate to the general work surroundings, to not people.”

A number of different reviews have raised questions on Raab’s conduct. The Guardian newspaper has reported that Raab created “a tradition of concern” in his time as justice secretary.

The Every day Mirror newspaper has reported he was nicknamed “The Incinerator” as he “burns by way of” workers. In the meantime, The Solar newspaper has individually alleged that Raab threw meals throughout a room in anger.

A spokesperson for Raab, who has rejected allegations of bullying, mentioned: “Dominic has excessive requirements, works arduous, and expects lots from his crew in addition to himself.

“He has labored nicely with officers to drive the federal government’s agenda throughout Whitehall in a number of authorities departments and at all times acts with the utmost professionalism.”

The claims regarding Raab have raised additional questions for Sunak after he pledged to steer a authorities primarily based on “integrity, professionalism and accountability” — a push to interrupt with the scandals of his predecessor Boris Johnson.

However his efforts have been hit by the compelled resignation of Sir Gavin Williamson, former minister with out portfolio, who was accused of bullying a colleague, and criticism of Suella Braverman, residence secretary, who admitted that she had despatched official paperwork to a private e mail tackle.

A number of opposition events, who’ve criticised Sunak’s dealing with of allegations made towards Braverman, urged the prime minister to launch an investigation into Raab’s conduct.

Angela Rayner, Labour’s deputy chief, mentioned the federal government was “plagued with a litany of great allegations” and that Sunak “should come clear on what he knew concerning the allegations towards his motley crew of ministers, and take motion to make sure there’s an impartial watchdog who the general public can belief”.

Daisy Cooper, deputy chief of the Liberal Democrats, known as for Raab to be investigated “with speedy impact”, saying: “These newest reviews can’t be brushed beneath the carpet by Rishi Sunak.”

However Eddie Hughes, a former housing minister who has labored with Raab, mentioned he understood Raab was “very arduous working” and anticipated excessive requirements from his colleagues. However Hughes added that he “by no means noticed him be impolite to anybody”.