Opposition parties have demanded an investigation into cabinet minister Dominic Raab’s alleged mistreatment of personnel during his tenure as justice secretary.
After his return in October, civil servants were offered a “way out” of working with him.
Between September 2021 and September 2022, Mr. Raab acted in a “rude” and “aggressive” manner, according to the newspaper.
His spokeswoman stated that he “acts with the utmost professionalism at all times.”
Mr. Raab was dismissed from his positions as justice secretary and deputy prime minister by former prime minister Liz Truss, but he was reappointed to those positions by Rishi Sunak when he was elected leader by Conservative MPs.
Mr. Raab had created a “culture of fear” at the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and his behavior towards civil servants was “demeaning” and “very rude and aggressive.”
Several sources told the newspaper that approximately 15 employees from Mr. Raab’s private office were taken into a room where Ministry of Justice officials admitted they may be apprehensive about his return and offered them the option of switching duties.
The Ministry of Justice’s most senior civil servant, Antonia Romeo, reportedly warned Mr. Raab upon his return to the department that he must treat personnel with professionalism and courtesy.
However, there have been no formal complaints against the cabinet minister.
Labour has termed the claims “very alarming” and demanded that they be addressed “immediately and impartially.”
Angela Rayner, the party’s deputy leader, stated that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak must “come clean” about whether he was aware of the allegations when he reappointed Dominic Raab to the Ministry of Justice, and that this raises doubts about the PM’s judgment.
Ms. Rayner stated, “He claimed to have zero tolerance for bullying, promised a government of integrity, and planned to appoint an ethics adviser as soon as possible, yet he is falling far short of every promise.”
“Rishi Sunak has already demonstrated that he is not only failing to stop the rot, but also allowing it to fester.”
Daisy Cooper, the deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats, stated that the Conservative government lacked “even a shred of integrity.”
“These latest reports are deeply disturbing, and the Cabinet Office must investigate them immediately,” she said.
There is no tolerance for bullying
A source close to the secretary of justice did not deny that staff were given the option of a transfer upon his return, but pushed back against any suggestion of bullying.
And a spokesman for Mr. Raab stated, “Dominic has high standards, works hard, and has high expectations for himself and his team.”
He has always acted with the utmost professionalism and has worked well with government officials to drive the government’s agenda across Whitehall in multiple government departments.
In the meantime, some Conservative lawmakers have defended Mr. Raab.
Helen Grant, the representative for Maidstone and the Weald, stated that she worked with a “very respectable” minister with “excellent professional standards” when he was foreign secretary.
Michael Fabricant, the member of parliament for Lichfield, told that the justice secretary was “demanding in a good way” and “business-like,” but added, “I don’t regard him as a bully.”
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson stated, “There is zero tolerance for bullying in the civil service.”
“The vice-prime minister presides over a professional department that drives big reforms, where civil workers are valued and ambition is strong.”
It follows this week’s resignation of cabinet minister Sir Gavin Williamson over claims of bullying.
As defense secretary, he is accused of sending threatening communications to a fellow Conservative lawmaker last month and of intimidating a senior civil official.
Sir Gavin stated that he “disputed” the characterization of his behavior.
