Staff were “scared” to go into Dominic Raab’s office, the former head of the Foreign Office claimed today.
In an explosive intervention, Lord Simon McDonald said the Deputy Prime Minister was “abrasive and controlling” with his office staff.
He urged the Prime Minister and Cabinet Secretary to "look again" at bullying procedures in light of claims against Mr Raab.
Lord McDonald, who led the Foreign Office and diplomatic service when Mr Raab was Foreign Secretary, told Times Radio: “It was language, it was tone.
“He would be very curt with people. And he did this in front of a lot of other people. I think people felt demeaned.”
Lord McDonald confirmed reports he raised Mr Raab’s behaviour with him, telling Times Radio: “ I tried to have that conversation with him."
It ramps up pressure on Mr Raab as he prepares to stand in for Rishi Sunak at tomorrow’s Prime Minister’s Questions, during Anti-Bullying Week.
And it comes hours after Rishi Sunak stood by Mr Raab, saying he didn’t “recognise the characterisation” of his deputy as a bully.
The PM - whose Cabinet Office minister Gavin Williamson resigned over bullying claims just a week ago - told reporters on the way to the G20 in Bali: “I'm not aware of any formal complaints about him.”
Yet Downing Street refused to say if an “expression of concern” - a step before a complaint - was raised about Mr Raab, as has been reported.
For the second day in a row, No10 repeatedly refused to say if Mr Sunak had been made aware of an "expression of concern" about Mr Raab - instead saying he was unaware of any "formal complaints".
In light of Lord McDonald's comments, No10 said the PM did not recognise the characterisation of his deputy.
After reports workers were offered a “route out” when Mr Raab returned to Cabinet, the Mirror revealed he has been nicknamed “The Incinerator” as he “burns through” staff so quickly.
Last night Bloomberg reported Simon Case, Britain’s top civil servant, was told by senior officials of concerns about Mr Raab’s behaviour and privately tried to improve it.
Lord McDonald yesterday was coy in his remarks, saying bullying complaints were “plausible” as MR Raab was a “tough boss” and “one of the most driven people I ever worked for”.
But today the ex-mandarin went much further, telling Times Radio: “When I worked for him, Dominic Raab was not aware of the impact of his behaviour on the people working for him and couldn't be made to see that impact.
“Colleagues did not complain to me formally, it was kind of their professional pride to cope.
“But many were scared to go into his office. His sort of defence was that he treated everyone in the building in the same way.
“He was as abrasive and controlling with junior ministers and senior officials, as he was with his private secretaries.
“After I left, I heard that the outcome of the Priti Patel bullying investigation had a sobering effect on him, and for a time his behaviour improved.
“So I hope that this round of stories will have a similar effect and I hope that the Prime Minister and Cabinet Secretary will look again at bullying complaints procedures for the top of government and the civil service."
Lord McDonald said he was not aware of a formal complaint against Mr Raab.
But he urged the PM and Cabinet Secretary to have “another look” at bullying procedures, as “what we have at the moment is not fit for purpose”.
“Action is only taken if there is a formal complaint and there is a feeling in the system that the system is stacked in favour of the minister or senior official,” he said.
“So people hesitate to make a formal complaint because of the effect on themselves.
“So this needs to be reworked. There needs to be somebody of seniority and independence and authority that can connect both with the Prime Minister and with the emerging subjects of such complaints.”
Shadow Levelling-Up Secretary Lisa Nandy today claimed bullying allegations against Mr Raab were an “open secret” in Westminster.
The Labour MP told Sky News: “When I was shadow foreign secretary - opposite Dominic Raab as foreign secretary - I did hear a number of rumours that this was a pattern of behaviour within the department.
“I think it’s been something of an open secret within Westminster for the last few years that there is a problem.
“There was a problem in the justice department, there was a problem in the foreign office, and it was particularly apparently directed towards women.”
Mr Raab has worked in the Brexit, Justice, Foreign and Housing departments among others.
A spokesperson for Dominic Raab said after Lord McDonald’s claims: “Dominic has acted with professionalism and integrity in all of his government roles.
“He has an excellent record of driving positive change in multiple government departments by working well with officials.
“He holds everyone, and most of all himself, to the high standards that the British people would expect of their government.”
Rishi Sunak dodged questions today on whether he should investigate bullying claims against Mr Raab.
He told reporters at the G20 in Indonesia: “As I said, I am not, and have not been, aware of any formal complaints about Dominic's behaviour.”
He added: “Of course, there are established processes in place for people to raise concerns. In all workplaces - private, public - if people have concerns they should raise them.
“Because unless people raise them it's hard for people to actually then look into them and make any changes that are necessary so I would urge people to do that.
“Those processes are confidential and it's right that they are used.”
