Pressure is growing on UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to share what he knew about the bullying allegations surrounding Dominic Raab before appointing him as his deputy.
Reports suggested Mr Sunak had been warned about Mr Raab's behaviour, but Downing Street has only ruled out the Prime Minister being aware of “formal complaints”.
Dozens of officials are believed to be behind eight formal complaints against the Deputy Prime Minister and to date, Mr Sunak has resisted demands from a civil servants’ union to suspend Mr Raab during the investigation.
Labour leader Keir Starmer accused the Prime Minister of being “too weak” to act and asked whether he was “the only person completely unaware” of the allegations.
At a combative Prime Minister’s Questions, Mr Sunak insisted he had appointed lawyer Adam Tolley KC to investigate when he learnt of “formal complaints”.
But reports have suggested that Mr Sunak was warned about Mr Raab’s conduct before appointing him as his deputy and Justice Secretary.
No 10 did not deny the Prime Minister had been made aware of “informal complaints”, pointedly sticking to Mr Sunak’s own wording.
“The PM was not aware of any formal complaints at the time of appointing Dominic Raab,” said his press secretary.
Pressed further, she said: “I don’t know what your definition of informal complaints is. The PET [propriety and ethics team in the Cabinet Office] processes are very clear.
“The appointments and usual processes were followed and we were not aware of any formal complaints.”
Rishi Sunak's first 100 days as Prime Minister — in pictures
-
Rishi Sunak has been British Prime Minister for 100 days. Here The National looks back at his time in No 10 Downing Street. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak after being announced as winner of the Conservative Party leadership contest on October 24. Getty Images -
King Charles III welcomes Mr Sunak to Buckingham Palace where he invited him to become Prime Minister and form a new government. Getty Images -
The new Prime Minister makes a speech outside No 10. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak arrives at No 10 for the first time as Prime Minister. Photo: Simon Walker/ No 10 Downing Street -
Mr Sunak holds his first cabinet meeting. Getty Images -
Hosting a reception to celebrate Diwali at No 10. Photo: Simon Walker / No 10 Downing Street -
A visit to Croydon University Hospital, south London. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty wearing poppies, with a special poppy collar for their pet Labrador Nova. Photo: Simon Walker / No 10 Downing Street -
The Prime Minister with Chancellor Jeremy Hunt in the Cabinet Room at No 10. Photo: Simon Walker / No 10 Downing Street -
King Charles, Mr Sunak, fashion designer Stella McCartney and US climate envoy John Kerry at Buckingham Palace before Cop27. Getty Images -
French President Emmanuel Macron and Mr Sunak at Cop27 in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak during a call to Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy from his office. Photo: Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Street -
On Remembrance Sunday at the Cenotaph in London. Photo: Simon Walker / No 10 Downing Street -
Mr Sunak with journalists on a flight to Bali and the G20 meeting. Photo: Simon Walker / No 10 Downing Street -
With Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during a meeting at the G20 in Nusa Dua, Indonesia. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak with US President Joe Biden at the G20 summit. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak meets rescue teams during his visit to Ukraine. Photo: No 10 Downing Street -
Mr Sunak and his wife outside No 10 as the Christmas lights are turned on. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak joins youth footballers from Wales and England to watch the World Cup match between the two nations. Photo: Simon Walker / No 10 Downing Street -
The Prime Minister reading congratulations cards from members of the public after being appointed. Photo: Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Street -
On a visit to RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire after the announcement that Britain will develop next-generation fighter jets with Italy and Japan. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak and Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas on a plane to Tallinn. Getty Images -
The Prime Minister with troops at the Tapa military base, Estonia. Getty Images -
The photo on Mr Sunak's official Christmas card. Photo: Simon Walker / No 10 Downing Street -
Mr Sunak prepares and serves breakfast on a visit to The Passage homeless shelter in London just before Christmas. Photo: Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Street -
Making his first major domestic speech of the year. Getty Images -
On a visit to Harris Academy in Battersea, London. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak and Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida arrive at the Tower of London for a meeting. Getty Images -
Toasting marshmallows on a visit to the Sea Scouts community group in Muirtown near Inverness. Getty Images -
A Q&A session at The Platform in Morecambe, Lancashire, after a community visit to the Eden Project North. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak and Mr Hunt at Accrington Market Hall with local MP Sara Britcliffe to announce projects under the levelling-up fund. Getty Images
Three permanent secretaries who led officials working under Mr Raab at the Foreign Office, Ministry of Justice and Brexit department are thought to have spoken to the inquiry.
Mr Starmer accused the Conservatives of having an “addiction to sleaze and scandal” as Mr Sunak’s party also grapples with allegations surrounding Boris Johnson and Nadhim Zahawi.
The Labour leader claimed Mr Sunak ignored reports about the tax dispute involving the now-sacked Tory chairman and had done similar about Mr Raab’s conduct.
He highlighted reports suggesting “some of the complainants were physically sick, one says they were left suicidal”.
“How would he feel if one of his friends or relatives was being forced to work for a bully simply because the man at the top was too weak to do anything about it?” Mr Starmer asked.
“When I was made aware of formal complaints, I appointed a leading independent KC to conduct an investigation, because I take action when these things happen.”
Sat next to the Prime Minister in the Commons, Mr Raab shook his head and muttered as the Labour leader questioned his appointment.
Mr Raab has always denied bullying but there are questions over why Mr Sunak appointed him despite allegations being made in public over many years.
Rishi Sunak through the years — in pictures
-
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announces July 4 as the date for the 2024 general election at No 10 Downing Street. Here, The National looks back at his political career. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak during local election campaigning in Teesside in May 2024. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak presents cupcakes to journalists on board a plane on the way to Warsaw in April 2024. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak during a press conference in Downing Street in January after the Safety of Rwanda Bill passed its third reading in the House of Commons. Getty Images -
Being applauded after his speech at the Conservative Party conference in October 2023. Getty Images -
Looking pensive alongside then-home secretary Suella Braverman at No 10 in October 2023. She didn't last much longer in the cabinet. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak sits in an old Special Branch police vehicle which was used to transport former prime minister Margaret Thatcher, in July 2023. Getty Images -
On board Border Agency cutter HMC Seeker during a visit to Dover in June 2023. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak alongside European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz during the G7 Summit in May 2023. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty arriving in Japan ahead of the G7 Summit in May 2023. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak and Chancellor Jeremy Hunt sending a message at Accrington Market Hall in January 2023. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy meet in Ukraine's capital Kyiv in November 2022. Getty Images -
King Charles III welcomes Mr Sunak during an audience at Buckingham Palace, where he invited the newly elected leader of the Conservative Party to become Prime Minister and form a new government in October 2022. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak makes a statement outside No 10 in October 2022 after taking office. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak arrives inside Number 10 in October 2022. Photo: Simon Walker/ No 10 Downing Street -
Greeted by colleagues at Conservative Party HQ after having been announced winner of the leadership contest in October 2022. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak at Westminster Hall in London following the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022. PA -
Mr Sunak visits his family's old business, Bassett Pharmacy, on the campaign trail in August 2022. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak looks at an NLAW anti-tank launcher during a visit to the Thales Defence System plant in Belfast in August 2022. Getty Images -
At a hustings event in Exeter in August 2022. Getty Images -
Celebrates England's first goal as he watches the Women's Euro 2022 final in Salisbury in July 2022. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak and Ms Truss take part in the BBC Leadership debate at Victoria Hall, Hanley, in July 2022. Getty Images -
With daughters Krisna and Anoushka and wife Akshata Murthy in July 2022. Getty Images -
Opening the Great Ayton Village Fete during the queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June 2022. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak and Ms Murthy speak to then-Prince Charles at a British Asian Trust event in February 2022. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak arrives at COP26 in Glasgow in November 2021 when he was chancellor. Getty Images -
Holding the budget box as he departs 11 Downing Street to deliver his Autumn Budget in October 2021. Getty Images -
At a press conference on the 2021 Budget in London in March 2021. Getty Images -
With former prime minister Boris Johnson during a visit to PD Ports on the River Tees in March 2021. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak poses with the budget box at 11 Downing Street in March 2021. Getty Images -
Meeting staff back at work after being furloughed at Hamleys toy shop in London, December 2020. Photo: HM Treasury -
Mr Sunak visits the Imperial Clinic Research Facility at Hammersmith Hospital, London, in November 2020. Getty Images -
Lighting a candle for Diwali on Downing Street, November 2020. Getty Images -
Working on a speech in his flat above 11 Downing Street in November 2020. Photo: HM Treasury -
Mr Johnson and Mr Sunak visit the headquarters of Octopus Energy in London in October 2020. Getty Images -
With his 'Winter Economy Plan' outside 11 Downing Street in September 2020. AFP -
Decorating a plate at Emma Bridgewater pottery in Stoke pottery in September 2020. Getty Images -
Promoting 'eat out to help out' on the Isle of Bute, Scotland, in August 2020. Getty Images -
A member of the public takes a selfie with Rishi Sunak during a visit to Scotland in August 2020. AFP -
Visiting a Wagamama restaurant in central London in July 2020. Photo: HM Treasury -
Rishi Sunak visits a Pret A Manger in Westminster in July 2020. HM Treasury -
With Mr Johnson at his first Cabinet meeting after a reshuffle at 10 Downing Street in February 2020. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak speaks during a general election debate in Cardiff in November 2019. Getty Images
“Obviously he does occasionally look at news websites but it’s not something he does every morning with every newspaper, no,” said the Prime Minister’s press secretary.
Dave Penman, leader of the FDA union, which represents senior officials, said Mr Raab should be suspended to protect other members of staff while the investigation is conducted.
“If that was any other employee, if that was a permanent secretary in the civil service, they would in all likelihood be suspended from their job while the investigation took place,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
“That’s not to prejudge the investigation, that’s to say if there are serious allegations of bullying and extensive allegations like this, that one of the considerations is, how do you protect employees from that sort of behaviour?
“While it’s being determined, you would normally suspend someone, given the seriousness and extent of those accusations.”
Lord Simon McDonald, the former top civil servant at the Foreign Office; Antonia Romeo, the current permanent secretary at the Ministry of Justice; and Philip Rycroft, who ran the Brexit department while Mr Raab was there, are thought to have given evidence as witnesses to the inquiry.
“It would be a bit of a surprise if the investigation hadn’t reached out to those who were working with Dominic Raab through those years,” said Mr Rycroft.
He also told Times Radio on Wednesday: “I’m pleased the investigation is happening.
“Clearly for everybody involved in this, getting this sorted out is long overdue, but we’ll have to wait and see what the investigator comes up with, and, ultimately, the decision on the base of that evidence is one for the Prime Minister.”
Everything you need to know about Rishi Sunak — video
Senior Conservative MP Bernard Jenkin backed Mr Sunak for not suspending Mr Raab while under investigation, saying he was “entitled to due process whatever the hullabaloo”.
Mr Jenkin said Mr Raab was a “demanding person to work with” but that officials should be prepared to work in very challenging situations.
“To an extent, if you’re at the top of the Civil Service or working closely with ministers, if you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen — to an extent,” he told BBC Radio 4’s World At One.
His comments came a day after senior Tory Jacob Rees-Mogg warned people against being “too snowflakey” about bullying allegations as he defended Mr Raab.
The Liberal Democrats called on the Prime Minister to publish the advice given to him by the Cabinet Office when he appointed Mr Raab in October.
“The public deserves to know the truth about what he knew and when, including the full disclosure of any advice given to him by the Cabinet Office,” said deputy party leader Daisy Cooper.
