United Kingdom (UK) Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) and Justice Secretary, Mr Dominic Raab on Friday resigned from office after allegations that he bullied colleagues and staff in different departments.
Mr Raab resigned from the British government after a report upheld two claims of bullying against him and found he was “unreasonably and persistently aggressive” in a meeting with foreign secretary.
His resignation comes barely five months after another senior minister, Mr Gavin Williamson, was forced to resign from the current Prime Minister’s cabinet in November, 2022 after bullying allegations.
“I am writing to resign from your government, following receipt of the report arising from the inquiry conducted by Adam Tolley KC”, Mr Raab said in a letter to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak published on Twitter.
”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,” he said in the resignation letter sighted by METROWATCHXTRA.COM.
“Whilst I feel duty bound to accept the outcome of the inquiry, it dismissed all but two of the claims levelled against me,” Raab added in his resignation letter.
But he also criticised the “adverse” and “flawed” findings, saying: “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.”
Raab’s resignation is considered a significant setback for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who faces criticism for allowing Raab to remain in his post while the investigation was underway.
PM Sunak, who was called “weak” for failing to sack his deputy over the allegations, accepted Mr Raab’s resignation with “great sadness” but said it was important that ministers uphold the highest of standards.
He, however, thanked the erstwhile DPM for his support during his bid to become PM, noting that the resignation should not make Britain forget Raab’s achievements as a government official.
As DPM, Raab had no formal powers but stepped in for the PM if he was away from parliament or incapacitated. However he was a close political ally of Sunak and helped launch his campaign to be PM last summer.
Meanwhile, while Alex Chalk, a junior minister in the defence department, will replace Raab as Justice Secretary, Oliver Dowden, Cabinet office minister, will take on the Deputy Prime Minister role.
*(Sourced from various British media)
