Now Dominic Raab calls for leak inquiry: former deputy prime minister ramps up his political battle as he demands independent inquiry into bullying allegations
Dominic Raab is stepping up his political battle today by demanding an independent leak investigation into his ‘trial by the media’ after being forced to resign over allegations of bullying.
In an interview with The Mail on Sunday, the former deputy prime minister credits the BBC for its role in the saga, saying the Corporation has “spent the last six months getting one or two sources in breach of the civil service code of conduct and breaking the rules of the investigation’. Mr Raab says, “If your family sees your six-month trial through the media, it’s no fun.”
He asks: ‘Has there been a leak investigation, will there be a leak investigation? I think that’s a very good question. I think there should be an independent leak investigation.’
The Prime Minister accepted Mr Raab’s resignation on Friday after the investigation by Adam Tolley KC found that Mr Raab was ‘harassing’ and ‘aggressive’ towards officials, upholding two of eight complaints.
Dominic Raab steps up his political battle today by demanding an independent leak investigation into his ‘trial by the media’ after being forced to resign over bullying allegations
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak accepted Mr Raab’s resignation on Friday after the inquiry by Adam Tolley KC concluded that Mr Raab was ‘intimidating’ and ‘aggressive’ towards officials, upholding two of eight complaints.
Whitehall insiders say senior officials fear Mr Raab could face legal action over alleged flaws in the inquiry’s process. Friends of Mr Raab say he is considering his options but will not take any action that would negatively affect Mr Sunak.
Writing in The Mail on Sunday, former Brexit Secretary David Davis condemns the ‘coordinated attacks’ on Mr Raab. This resulted in an astonishing barrage of propaganda, resulting in what appears to be a witch hunt.”
Mr Davis said: ‘A matter that should be treated with care and confidentiality has been used as a plaything for the government’s critics… the vast majority of claims have been dismissed and two allegations upheld.
‘One of these concerned the way in which he replaced a diplomat as Foreign Minister in the run-up to Brexit. The second was about feedback given to staff. Tolley failed to take into account that the diplomat had seriously overstepped his mandate and undermined an important element of the government’s negotiating position.”
Former cabinet minister Jacob Rees-Mogg said Mr Raab’s fall raised the danger of “one-way accountability” in politics, where “ministers are accountable and officials can be incompetent and useless.”
Former cabinet minister Jacob Rees-Mogg said Mr Raab’s fall posed the danger of “one-way accountability” in politics, where “ministers are accountable and officials can be incompetent, useless and fail to follow government policies.” consequence for that. This is undemocratic.’
Last night, Lord McDonald, who worked as Mr Raab’s permanent secretary at the Foreign Office, claimed that Mr Raab had rejected repeated warnings about his behaviour.
He said, “I witnessed a hard taskmaster. Frankly, I witnessed one whose methods did not help him achieve what he wanted to do and I raised with him more than once.”
Lord McDonald added: ‘I was trying to make my boss understand how his behavior was making his professional life difficult.’
