Boris Johnson previously warned Dominic Raab about his conduct, according to reports that claim the former prime minister has given evidence to the bullying investigation.
Johnson has been interviewed by Adam Tolley KC, the independent lawyer who is investigating formal complaints made against Raab about his treatment of staff, according to the Daily Telegraph (paywall).
The justice secretary faces claims from at least 24 civil servants, connected to not only the justice department but the Foreign Office and the Brexit department, his former cabinet posts.
Raab last month confirmed he will resign from government if an inquiry into his conduct concludes he bullied civil servants, as alleged by a series of officials.
“If an allegation of bullying is upheld, I would resign,” Raab, who also holds the post of deputy prime minister, told Sky News’s Sophy Ridge on Sunday. Raab has denied any bullying or other mistreatment of staff.
A spokesperson for Johnson declined to comment on the reports, adding: “It would be inappropriate to comment on an ongoing inquiry.”
The Conservative MP and former party chair Jake Berry said Raab should temporarily step aside from government pending Tolley’s report.
Raab said he believed this was not the correct thing to do. “First of all, that’s ultimately for the prime minister to decide,” he said.
“But if by lodging complaints you can knock out a cabinet minister or a senior figure, I’m not sure that’s right. We believe in innocent till proven guilty in this country.”
The investigation features potentially damaging allegations over bullying behaviour when dealing with civil servants, some of whom held senior roles, including that Raab “belittled and demeaned” them and was “very rude and aggressive” on multiple occasions each day.
A Cabinet Office spokesperson said it “would not be appropriate to comment further” while Tolley’s investigation is ongoing.
