'Bully' Raab quits as minister with blast at snowflake civil servants

‘Sorry you can’t hack it’: Dominic Raab resigns as deputy PM with furious blast at snowflake civil servants who took ‘offence’ at his standards after bullying probe upheld two complaints against him

Dominic Raab accused civil servants of not being able to hack his high standards as he quit the Cabinet today after a report found he bullied his staff.

Mr Raab resigned as justice secretary and deputy prime minister with a furious public broadside at mandarins who could not handle ‘the pace, standards and challenge that I brought’.

He fell on his sword after an independent probe by Adam Tolley KC upheld two of eight complaints against him. 

Mr Raab, the former foreign secretary, made it clear in his resignation letter – published on Twitter – that he did not agree with the findings. 

But he said he stepped down because he had pledged to do so if the report went against him.

In a stinging attack on the Civil Service he said: ‘Mr Tolley concluded that I had not once, in four-and-a-half years, sworn or shouted at anyone, let alone thrown anything or otherwise physically intimidated anyone, nor intentionally sought to belittle anyone.

‘I am genuinely sorry for any unintended stress or offence that any officials felt, as a result of the pace, standards and challenge that I brought to the Ministry of Justice. That is, however, what the public expect of ministers working on their behalf.

Rishi Sunak has fired Justice Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab after an independent investigation ruled he bullied civil service in a string of government departments.

The former Tory leadership contender was eventually sacked by the prime minister following a day of agonising over the decision after he received Adam Tolley KC’s report.

Mr Raab had said he would quit if it upheld any of the complaints against him. And in his letter to the PM this morning he said it was ‘important to keep my word’.

The former Tory leadership contender quit  following a day of agonising by the Prime minister Rishi Sunak over whether to sack him after he received Adam Tolley KC’s report.

The complaints also covered his time as foreign secretary, Brexit secretary and during his first stint as justice secretary.

Friends had last night insisted he would ‘fight to the death’ to save his job and career. 

But Mr Raab had previously pledged to quit if it upheld any of the complaints against him. And in his letter to the PM this morning he said it was ‘important to keep my word’.

But he also added: ‘Whilst I feel duty bound to accept the outcome of the inquiry, it dismissed all but two of the claims levelled against me.

‘I also believe that its two adverse findings are flawed and set a dangerous precedent for the conduct of good government.

‘In setting the threshold for bullying so low, this inquiry has set a dangerous precedent.

‘It will encourage spurious complaints against ministers, and have a chilling effect on those driving change on behalf of your government – and ultimately the British people.’

He called for an independent review into the “systematic leaking of skewed and fabricated claims to the media in breach of the rules of the inquiry and the Civil Service Code of Conduct, and the coercive removal by a senior official of dedicated Private Secretaries from my Ministry of Justice Private Office, in October of last year”.

He also told Mr Sunak that he remained fully supportive of him and the government.

“You have proved a great Prime Minister in very challenging times, and you can count on my support from the backbenches.”

The eight complaints against Mr Raab were believed to centre on his behaviour as foreign secretary, Brexit secretary and during his first stint as justice secretary.

His exit as Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary leaves a major gap in Mr Sunak’s Cabinet, with speculation about who will replace the loyal Sunak backer.

Mr Raab’s resignation comes months after the Prime Minister moved to sack Nadhim Zahawi as Conservative Party chair amid controversy over his tax affairs, while Sir Gavin Williamson – another Sunak backer – resigned only days into his premiership after it was alleged he sent expletive-laden messages to a former chief whip.

His decision to stepdown came minutes after Transport Secretary Mark Harper  defended the PM for taking his time to come to a decision

He told BBC Breakfast: ‘I think actually that’s the fair thing to do both for the complainants, who made some serious complaints, but also for Dominic Raab.

‘I think for both sides in this the Prime Minister should take the time.’

The Liberal Democrats have demanded a by-election in Mr Raab’s constituency of Esher and Walton following his ministerial resignation over a report into bullying allegations against him.

The seat is a key ‘blue wall’ target for the party.

Deputy leader Daisy Cooper said: ‘Dominic Raab has shown he is not only unfit to serve as a minister, but is totally unfit to represent his constituents in Parliament.

‘He should resign as an MP and trigger a by-election so the people of Esher and Walton can finally have the MP they deserve.’

In full: Dominic Raab’s resignation letter to Rishi Sunak 

Dear Prime Minister,

I am writing to resign from your government, following the receipt of the report arising from the inquiry conducted by Adam Tolley KC.

I called for the inquiry and undertook to resign, if it made any finding of bullying whatsoever. I believe it is important to keep my word.

It has been a privilege to serve you as Deputy Prime Minister, Justice Secretary and Lord Chancellor.

I am grateful to have had the opportunity to work as a minister in a range of roles and departments since 2015, and pay tribute to the many outstanding civil servants with whom I have worked.

Whilst I feel duty bound to accept the outcome of the inquiry, it dismissed all but two of the claims levelled against me.

I also believe that its two adverse findings are flawed and set a dangerous precedent for the conduct of good government.

First, ministers must be able to exercise direct oversight with respect to senior officials over critical negotiations conducted on behalf of the British people, otherwise the democratic and constitutional principle of ministerial responsibility will be lost.

This was particularly true during my time as foreign secretary, in the context of the Brexit negotiations over Gibraltar, when a senior diplomat breached the mandate agreed by Cabinet.

Second, ministers must be able to give direct critical feedback on briefings and submissions to senior officials, in order to set the standards and drive the reform the public expect of us.

Of course, this must be done within reasonable bounds. Mr Tolley concluded that I had not once, in four-and-a-half years, sworn or shouted at anyone, let alone thrown anything or otherwise physically intimidated anyone, nore intentionally sought to belittle anyone.

I am genuinely sorry for any unintended stress or offence that any officials felt, as a result of the pace, standards and challenge that I brought to the Ministry of Justice. That is, however, what the public expect of ministers working on their behalf.

In setting the threshold for bullying so low, this inquiry has set a dangerous precedent.

It will encourage spurious complaints against ministers, and have a chilling effect on those driving change on behalf of your government – and ultimately the British people.

Finally, I raised with you a number of improprieties that came to light during the course of this inquiry.

They include the systematic leaking of skewed and fabricated claims to the media in breach of the rules of the inquiry and the civil service code of conduct, and the coercive removal by a senior official of dedicated private secretaries from my Ministry of Justice private office, in October of last year.

I hope these will be independently reviewed.

I remain as supportive of you and this Government as when I first introduced you at your campaign leadership launch last July.

You have proved a great Prime Minister in very challenging times, and you can count on my support from the backbenches.

Yours sincerely,

Dominic Raab

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