LONDON, (Reuters) – British Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab said today he has requested an independent investigation into two formal complaints about his behaviour, the latest case of alleged bullying to put pressure on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
Raab said he had been notified of two separate complaints, one from when he was foreign minister and one from his tenure as justice minister.
Some officials who have worked for him say he was a tough and demanding boss, with others being quoted by local media as saying he was rude, aggressive and a bully. Raab has denied the allegations.
In a letter to Sunak, Raab said he had “just been notified” of complaints, both relating to his behaviour when he served under former prime minister Boris Johnson.
Raab said he would “cooperate fully and respect whatever outcome you decide” and that he remained “committed to serving this government”.
The new allegations put more pressure on Sunak, who used his first speech as prime minister last month to say his government would demonstrate “integrity, professionalism and accountability”.
Sunak defended his deputy this week, saying he did not recognise allegations that Raab had bullied staff.
A cabinet minister, Gavin Williamson, resigned from government last week over allegations he had bullied colleagues, with opposition parties saying the case raised questions about Sunak’s judgment just weeks into the job.
In reply to the letter, Sunak said he knew Raab would be “keen to address the complaints made against you”, adding that it was “right that these matters are investigated fully”.
Raab, who stood in for Boris Johnson for almost a month while the former prime minister was hospitalised with COVID-19 in 2020, said he sought to set “high standards” in his teams to deliver in challenging circumstances over recent years.
Raab will address lawmakers in parliament today as he answers Prime Minister’s Questions – a weekly fixture in the British political calendar which normally pits the prime minister against the main opposition Labour leader in debate.
With Sunak travelling from a G20 meeting, Raab instead will face Labour’s deputy leader, Angela Rayner.
It is not clear who will investigate the allegations against Raab as Sunak has yet to appoint a new independent adviser on ministerial standards. Christopher Geidt resigned from that role in the summer and has not been replaced.