Rishi Sunak was branded “utterly incapable” of turning the page on Tory sleaze after Dominic Raab was forced to resign over bullying.
The turmoil cast yet more doubt on the PM’s promise to restore “integrity, professionalism and accountability” after Boris Johnson and Liz Truss ’s chaotic governments.
There was widespread dismay that the Deputy PM and Justice Secretary was able to resign before the report condemning his behaviour was made public. This allowed him to get his excuses in first with a lengthy, unrepentant rant in the Telegraph and other media appearances.
The PM had dithered for 24 hours over whether to sack his close ally over a report by KC Adam Tolley.
Commenting on Raab’s time as Foreign Secretary Mr Tolley wrote: “His conduct involved an abuse or misuse of power in a way that undermines or humiliates.
“In particular, he went beyond what was reasonably necessary in order to give effect to his decision and introduced a punitive element.
“His conduct was bound to be experienced as undermining or humiliating. The DPM must have been aware of this effect.”
Raab was also found to have intimidated staff by criticising “utterly useless” work while Justice Secretary.
In his long, moaning justification, Raab said “only” 15 people had come forward to criticise him. And he claimed the nation will “pay the price” if the threshold for bullying is lowered.
He accused a minority of “very activist civil servants” of trying to block Government policy on issues they didn’t like”. And he insisted “subjective hurt feelings by some” was not bullying”.
A Ministry of Justice official said: “The past few hours tells you everything you need to know about Mr Raab. Gaslighting to the end. Instead of touring TV studios and writing unrepentant newspaper articles he should be holding his head in shame.”
Before the resignation, dithering Sunak had held talks with Mr Tolley and his ethics adviser Sir Laurie Magnus but did not phone Raab until yesterday morning. No10 refused to say if the PM had asked him to quit. In his resignation letter Raab railed against the report, calling its findings “flawed” and saying it set a dangerous precedent for government.
Asked whether he would condemn Raab’s behaviour, Sunak’s spokesman said: “Clearly any bullying in general terms is unacceptable and clear rules that apply to that.”
In his reply to Raab, Mr Sunak said he had “rightly” promised to go if the report found evidence of bullying, adding: “You kept your word.” He added: “But it is clear that there have been shortcomings that have negatively affected everyone involved.” Raab is the third minister to leave Sunak’s top team under a cloud in just six months.
Gavin Williamson quit after allegedly telling a civil servant to “slit your throat” and sending sweary texts to the ex-chief whip.
Party chairman Nadhim Zahawi was sacked after he settled a multi-million tax dispute, including a penalty, while Chancellor. Labour Deputy Leader Angela Rayner said: “ Rishi Sunak was personally warned about Raab’s conduct but showed appalling judgment in choosing to appoint him.
“Rather than showing leadership, he has proved himself too weak to give his deputy his marching orders.
“In six months he has lost three senior ministers he appointed. He’s utterly incapable of turning the page on 13 years of sleaze.”
The Lib Dems demanded a by-election in Raab’s Esher and Walton seat, one of their key targets. Tory whip Joy Morrissey mounted a surreal defence of Raab, tweeting: “Sadly, we now live in a country where the definition of bullying includes telling someone to do their job.”
FDA union boss Dave Penman said the resignation was a “damning indictment” of the failures in the system and added: “Raab’s accusations about ‘activist civil servants’ trying to block Government is just the latest conspiracy he’s concocted.”
The PM appointed two close allies to replace Raab. Long-time friend Oliver Dowden becomes Deputy PM alongside his existing role as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. Alex Chalk becomes Justice Secretary, the 11th person to hold the post since the Tories took power in 2010.
Mr Sunak also appointed Chloe Smith as Science Secretary while Michelle Donelan is on maternity leave. In 2020 her husband, Sandy McFadzean, reportedly attended an anti-lockdown march in London and then he tweeted: “Covid-19 is most likely an outbreak of mental illness.”
Ms Smith, Constitution Minister at the time, said: “My husband’s a private citizen. Everyone’s entitled to their own view. I take a different view.”
