Rishi Sunak's delay in deciding whether to sack Dominic Raab has been dismissed as a "farce" - as allies of the deputy PM say he plans to "fight to the death" to keep his job.
The dithering PM was yesterday handed a report by top lawyer Adam Tolley into multiple allegations of bullying against Mr Raab. He was widely expected to announce a decision on whether Mr Raab would remain in post yesterday.
But Mr Sunak was still weighing up what to do last night, sparking criticism as Mr Raab faces his day of reckoning.
The Deputy Prime Minister is understood to have read the report - which has not been made public - and maintains he has not broken the ministerial code.
He previously said he would resign if an allegation of bullying was upheld.
An ally of Mr Raab told The Telegraph he intends to "fight to the death" to keep his job as pressure mounts on Rishi Sunak to act.
Dave Penman, general secretary of the FDA union, also branded the delay a "farce" and a "completely unsatisfactory state of affairs".
He told BBC Breakfast when asked whether the row was down to generational differences in workplace culture: "We don't need to redefine bullying, bullying is dealt with in workplaces up and down the country.
"There are demanding bosses and there are bullies, and everyone knows the difference."
He added: "We don't really know why he ( Rishi Sunak ) hasn't been able to decide on the facts that were presented to him yesterday.
"It just reinforces the point of what a kind of farce this whole process is for those who raised complaints.
"Whatever the reason for that is, a completely unsatisfactory state of affairs, to be honest."
Meanwhile Transport Secretary Mark Harper defended the time taken by the Prime Minister to reach a decision over the report into Mr Raab's conduct as "fair" to the officials who made complaints.
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."
A source close to Mr Raab said the Prime Minister has not asked him to resign and denied the pair had held talks over his future.
No 10 had promised that the Prime Minister's verdict on the eight formal allegations would be published "swiftly".
But as a decision was delayed a Downing Street source said Mr Sunak was "taking time to go through the report thoroughly".
Labour accused Mr Sunak of lacking the "guts" to sack his ally and said the decision was distracting him from leading the country.
Shadow attorney general Emily Thornberry said: "I think it's another example of Conservative chaos and not addressing the problems of the country.
"He's going to spend tonight looking at the report and trying to summon up the courage to work out whether he should sack his deputy or not when really what he should be doing is focusing on a cost-of-living crisis.
"He's got the report, read the report, if he's a bully, sack him."
In total there were eight formal complaints involving at least 24 civil servants against Mr Raab, who also served as Foreign Secretary under Boris Johnson.
The Mirror has previously reported Mr Raab has been nicknamed “The Incinerator” because he “burns through” staff so quickly.
It was alleged that in one instance he had hurled tomatoes across a table in a rage.
y
