Staff members who were traumatized by his prior time in the department have been offered new positions outside of his private office.
Dominic Raab “values” his department’s civil servants, the Ministry of Justice claimed after allegations of bullying surfaced against him.
Mr. Raab was reappointed as justice secretary and deputy prime minister by Rishi Sunak last month. He previously held these positions from September 2021 to September 2022 under Boris Johnson but was dismissed by Liz Truss due to her brief term in government.
Nevertheless, his return to the Ministry of Justice was not welcomed by all, which reported that 15 senior civil servants in his private office were offered “respite or a way out” due to fears that some were still traumatized by his previous stint.
According to sources, department heads spoke with the group and acknowledged that Mr. Raab’s reappointment could cause them concern, with some employees shedding tears and deciding to leave.
However, the article also quoted sources indicating that a few employees have since returned.
Multiple MoJ sources claimed he had created a “culture of fear” in the department, alleging that he was “demeaning rather than demanding” with civil servants and that he was “very rude and aggressive,” adding, “[He] wasn’t just unprofessional; he was a bully.”
The publication reportedly alleged that permanent secretary Antonia Romeo told Mr. Raab to treat personnel with respect upon his return, with a source who was not there at the time stating that she had “read him the riot act.”
In reaction to the claims, a Ministry of Justice official stated: “There is zero tolerance for bullying in the entire public sector.
“The vice-prime minister presides over a professional department that drives big reforms, where civil workers are valued and ambition is strong.”
A source in the department told that they would dispute any allegations of bullying, stating that Mr. Raab “takes great pleasure in his professionalism and has a fantastic working relationship with the officials, whom he highly regards.”
In addition, they stated that he had served as a minister in numerous government agencies for many years without ever receiving a formal complaint.
Requests an investigation
The allegations come days after former cabinet minister Gavin Williamson resigned from the government after facing multiple allegations of bullying, and as questions remain over the rehiring of Home Secretary Suella Braverman, who was reinstated to the frontbench six days after committing a security breach and violating the ministerial code.
Angela Rayner, the deputy leader of the Labour Party, described the allegations against Dominic Raab as “very alarming” and as raising “even further doubts about Rishi Sunak’s judgment.”
She went on: “With each new scandal and shady transaction, it becomes increasingly apparent that he is a weak leader who prioritizes party control over the national interest.
“He claimed to have zero tolerance for bullying, promised an honest government, and pledged to appoint an ethics adviser immediately, but he has fallen far short of every promise. Rishi Sunak has already demonstrated that he is not only unable to stop the rot, but also allowing it to fester.”
She joined the Liberal Democrats in requesting an investigation into the allegations made against Mr. Raab.
Daisy Cooper, deputy leader of the Lib Dems, said: “These most recent reports cannot be swept under the rug by Rishi Sunak. He must initiate an investigation into Raab immediately.
No employee, whether in the public or private sector, should be forced to work with or for a bully.
Colleagues who worked under the justice secretary elsewhere, including Conservative MP Eddie Hughes, rushed to his defense “When I was offered my first position as his PPS (parliamentary private secretary), I was informed that Dominic was demanding. He is extremely diligent and expects others to be as well. I was ecstatic. I desired to work for a person who took their responsibilities seriously.
“We got along fine from the beginning. Never witnessed him being rude to anyone.”
Another Republican Rachel Maclean responded to Mr. Huges’s tweet: “Neither did I when I collaborated with him on projects at the Home Office. He possesses the high standards required to deliver for the British people.”
