Dominic Raab report latest: Raab hits out at ‘activist civil servants’ as he quits after bullying probe

Dominic Raab has insisted he behaved appropriately as Deputy Prime Minister and blamed a few “very activist civil servants” for his downfall.

In an interview with BBC political editor Chris Mason just hours after he resigned from Cabinet after an inquiry found he was “intimidating” and “aggressive” towards officials, Mr Raab accused “activist civil servants” of trying to block the work of government.

He said there was a risk “a very small minority” of officials “with a passive aggressive culture” were trying to block reforms they did not like.

He defended his behaviour saying “I’m sure I’ve made mistakes...if the threshold for bullying is so lowered that picking people up on bad work...if we can’t do those things it will ultimately be the public who pay the price.”

Downing Street has appointed Oliver Dowden as Deputy Prime Minister, replacing MrRaab who resigned earlier in the day following the report into claims he bullied colleagues.

The Cabinet secretary moves up to become Rishi Sunak’s right-hand man, while Alex Chalk has been named the new Justice Secretary in a dramatic day of political upheaval for the government.

Mr Raab, who was also the Justice Secretary, fired off an angry letter as he quit the Government around 24 hours after Mr Sunak had been handed the report by senior lawyer Adam Tolley KC.

In his investigation Mr Tolley found Mr Raab acted in an “intimidating” fashion with “unreasonably and persistently aggressive conduct” in a work meeting while he was Foreign Secretary.

The report is a 47-page document.

Key Points

• Civil servants’ work branded ‘utterly useless’

• Raab did not use ‘physical gestures in a threatening way'

• Rishi Sunak expresses ‘sadness’ at his deputy’s resignation

Government publishes Dominic Raab report

11:40 , Sarah Harvey

The Government has published the findings of the Dominic Raab bullying inquiry. It comes after the Deputy Prime Minister resigned on Friday morning.

You can read the full report here, we will breaking it down throughout the afternoon.

Raab ‘abused or misused power’, report finds

11:46 , Rachael Burford

Dominic Raab’s management style was ‘ intimidating’, Adam Tolley KC found during his investigation into eight reports of bullying.

In his findings into Mr Raab‘s conduct as Foreign Secretary, the report states: “In reaching and implementing this management choice he acted in a way which was intimidating, in the sense of unreasonably and persistently aggressive conduct in the context of a work meeting.

“It also involved an abuse or misuse of power in a way that undermines or humiliates. He introduced an unwarranted punitive element.”

Civil servants felt threatened by Raab’s ‘intimidating behaviour'

11:50 , Sarah Harvey

During one occasion while Foreign Secretary, Dominic Raab was found to have caused a “significant adverse effect” on a civil servant after conveying a threat.

Mr Raab referred to the civil service code in a way that would reasonably have been understood as suggesting those involved had committed a breach, the report states.

“This had a significant adverse effect on a particular individual who took it seriously.

“The DPM’s (Deputy Prime Minister) conduct was a form of intimidating behaviour, in the sense of conveying a threat of unspecified disciplinary action, and was experienced as such.

“He did not target any individual, nor intend to threaten anyone with disciplinary action. However, he ought to have realised that his reference to the Civil Service Code could well have been understood as a threat.”

Civil servants’ work branded ‘utterly useless’

11:54 , Rachael Burford

Dominic Raab described the work of officials as “utterly useless” and “woeful” while he was Justice Secretary.

The report praises the Ministry of Justice complainants’ “courage” for coming forward with allegations that launched the inquiry.

Though he did not make any formal findings about Mr Raab‘s conduct in relation to these claims, Mr Tolley did say Mr Raab acted in an “intimidating” manner at meetings with policy officials.

He also made “unconstructive critical comments” about the quality of work they did.

Raab did not use ‘physical gestures in a threatening way'

12:02 , Rachael Burford

Adam Tolley said he heard “a good deal of evidence” about karate black belt Mr Raab’s “use of physical gestures in communication”.

But he was “not convinced” the moves, which included loud banging on tables, were used “in a threatening way”.

“At the most extreme, and which would have been unacceptable, this was put as extending his hand directly out towards another person’s face with a view to making them stop talking,” Mr Tolley said.

“Another example of such an allegation was loud banging of the table to make a point. At the opposite end of the spectrum, which would be regarded as acceptable, suggestions were made of the use of a defensive gesture to suggest that a person should hold off from speaking further, accompanied by a verbal explanation, or the use of a finger extended downwards to make a particular point.

“It seemed to me that there was, and is, significant scope for misunderstanding in relation to the use of physical gestures as part of communication. I was not convinced that [Raab] used physical gestures in a threatening way, although those unused to this style of communication might well have found it disconcerting. I did not consider that there was any basis for legitimate criticism in this respect. The ‘hand out’ gesture was not in my view nearly as emphatic as the allegation suggested.

Nor did I consider that any ‘banging’ of the table was such as would be likely to cause alarm.”

Raab hits out at ‘flawed’ findings

12:08 , Rachael Burford

Dominic Raab hit out at the bullying probe report as he resigned from Government.

In his resignation letter he said: “Ministers must be able to give direct critical feedback on briefings and submissions to senior officials, in order to set the standards and drive the reform the public expect of us. Of course, this must be done within reasonable bounds. Mr Tolley concluded that I had not once, in four and a half years, sworn or shouted at anyone, let alone thrown anything or otherwise physically intimidated anyone, nor intentionally sought to belittle anyone.

“I am genuinely sorry for any unintended stress or offence that any officials felt, as a result of the pace, standards and challenge that I brought to the Ministry of Justice. That is, however, what the public expect of ministers working on their behalf.

“In setting the threshold for bullying so low, this inquiry has set a dangerous precedent. It will encourage spurious complaints against ministers, and have a chilling effect on those driving change on behalf of your government - and ultimately the British people.”

Rishi Sunak expresses 'sadness’ at his deputy’s resignation.

12:16 , Rachael Burford

Mr Raab has been a close ally of the Prime Minister, and helped lead his Tory party leadership campaign last year.

"When I became Prime Minister in October last year, I pledged that the Government I lead would have integrity, professionalism and accountability at every level", Mr Sunak said.

"The Ministerial Code requires ministers to uphold the highest standards.

"When formal complaints about your conduct in different ministerial posts were submitted last year, I appointed at your request an independent investigator to conduct a full investigation into the specific facts surrounding these complaints. Adam Tolley KC has now submitted his report and I have carefully considered its findings, as well as consulting the Independent Adviser on Ministers' Interests.

"As you say, you had - rightly - undertaken to resign if the report made any finding of bullying whatsoever. You have kept your word. But it is clear that there have been shortcomings in the historic process that have negatively affected everyone involved. We should learn from this how to better handle such matters in future.

"But your resignation should not make us forget your record of delivery in both this Government and previous administrations. These achievements should make you extremely proud."

Raab cleared of shouting and swearing at staff

12:17 , Rachael Burford

Adam Tolley said: “There was no persuasive evidence that the Deputy Prime Minister shouted at individuals. I also conclude that he did not swear at any individual or swear more generally.”

Raab worked from 7.30am-10pm and was ‘impatient and fastidious’

12:27 , Rachael Burford

Dominic Raab‘s has an “inquisitorial, direct, impatient and fastidious” style of working and put in 14 hour days, the report said.

He works “assiduously and typically from about 7.30am to about 10pm Monday to Thursday,” Adam Tolley KC said.

“The DPM’s style is, in his own words, inquisitorial, direct, impatient and fastidious.

“The DPM told me, and I accept, that he tends to prepare extensively for meetings, will typically have read all of the key papers and identified questions in advance.”

Raab conduct involved ‘an abuse or misuse of power'

12:32 , Rachael Burford

Dominic Raab‘s conduct involved “an abuse or misuse of power” in an incident during a meeting while at the Foreign Office.

He had formed an “adverse view” of civil servants’ actions on an ongoing project and acted in a way that was “unreasonably and persistently aggressive”, Adam Tolley KC wrote.

Mr Raab’s behaviour “went beyond what was reasonably necessary” and introduced a “punitive” element, the report said.

“For the purpose of analysis in this report, I have assumed (without so concluding) that [Mr Raab] was entitled to form an adverse view, although I should also record that even on this premise there were no grounds for disciplinary action,” it adds.

“However, as part of the process towards and implementation of this management choice, he acted in a way which was intimidating, in the sense of unreasonably and persistently aggressive in the context of a workplace meeting. His conduct also 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.”

Raab: ‘Complaints are surprisingly non-specific'

12:35 , Rachael Burford

The complaints are “surprisingly non-specific”, Dominic Raab said.

He warned there would be a risk of “unfairness” in making factual findings based on the allegations.

Adam Tolley KC wrote: “The Deputy Prime Minister’s written representations made a further point about the level of detail in the complaints and in the summaries provided to him, contending that many of the matters included were ‘surprisingly non-specific’.

“He argued that if I were to make factual findings based on non-specific allegations, there would be a risk of unfairness because there would not have been a sufficient opportunity to respond.”

Senior diplomat told Raab ‘not to threaten staff'

12:45 , Rachael Burford

Dominic Raab was told not to threaten staff with the Civil Service Code by a senior diplomat, the report claims.

While at the Foreign Office Mr Raab suggested staff had broken the code on two occasions, the report said.

Sir Philip Barton had a “private informal meeting” with the then-minister about his conduct, it said.

Mr Tolley wrote: “After this (second) occasion, Sir Philip Barton told the DPM in a private and informal meeting that he should not threaten officials with reference to the Civil Service Code.

“The Deputy Prime Minister disputed that any such conversation had occurred. The discussion was not minuted or otherwise recorded.

“On this point, I prefer the evidence of Sir Philip. He had no reason to make up such a conversation with a view to protecting himself; the FCDO complaint has not been made public.

“Nor was Sir Philip acting as though he were the Deputy Prime Minister’s employer or manager.”

Labour accuse PM of ‘continual weakness’ over Raab resignation

13:01 , Rachael Burford

Sir Keir Starmer accused Rishi Sunak of “continual weakness” for allowing Mr Raab to resign 24 hours after the bullying report reached Downing Street.

The Labour leader also criticised the former Deputy PM for “whining” about having to leave his post.

“I don’t know why Dominic Raab, in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis, thinks that anybody wants to hear about his whining about having to resign,” Sir Keir said.

“What I think everybody wants is strong leadership and that has been palpably absent here.”

In a resignation letter to the PM, Mr Raab said that he was keeping his word, after promising to resign “if it made any finding of bullying whatsoever”.

But he told Mr Sunak: “Whilst I feel duty-bound to accept the outcome of the inquiry, it dismissed all but two of the claims levelled against me.

“I also believe that its two adverse findings are flawed and set a dangerous precedent for the conduct of good government.”

PM spoke to Raab before resignation

13:09 , Rachael Burford

Dominic Raab spoke to the Prime Minister ahead of his resignation, but Downing Street refused to say whether Rishi Sunak told his deputy to quit.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “He spoke to Dominic Raab this morning, that was on the phone rather than in person.”

He would not say whetherMr Raab was asked to resign from the Cabinet, saying: “I’m not going to get into their conversation.”

Mr Sunak consulted both Mr Tolley and his ethics adviser Sir Laurie Magnus after receiving the report on Thursday morning.

But he did not speak to Mr Raab that day, the spokesman said.

PM accepts Raab broke Ministerial Code, No10 suggests

13:18 , Rachael Burford

The Prime Minister accepts that Dominic Raab broke the Ministerial Code by bullying staff, Downing Street has suggested.

“You can see the aspects relevant to the code are set out in the report,” the PM’s spokesman said. “I think those speak for themselves.

“The Prime Minister thinks it’s right that any findings whatsoever that are deemed to be bullying, it’s right to resign. That’s the commitment the former Secretary of State made and he’s upheld that commitment.”

Asked whether Rishi Sunak would condemn the behaviour, the spokesman added: “Clearly, any bullying in general terms is unacceptable and there are clear rules that apply to that.”

Cheltenham MP to replace Raab

13:35 , Rachael Burford

Suggestions that Alex Chalk is set to replace Mr Raab as Justice Secretary.

The Cheltenham MP is in Downing Street meeting with the Prime Minister now.

Reshuffle at MoJ and new Deputy PM

13:51 , Michael Howie

Cheltenham MP Alex Chalk has officially been named as the new Justice Secretary, while Oliver Dowden is the new Deputy PM.

The new appointments are:

·        Alex Chalk KC as Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice;

·        James Cartlidge MP as a Minister of State in the Ministry of Defence;

·        Gareth Davies MP as Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury.

The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Oliver Dowden MP, has also been appointed Deputy Prime Minister.

More mini-reshuffle news

14:05 , Rachael Burford

Norwich North MP Chloe Smith, who has said she is standing down at the next election, will cover as Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology while Michelle Donelan is on maternity leave.

No 10 confirmed the appointment as it carried out a mini-reshuffle in the wake of Dominic Raab‘s resignation.

Chalk is 11th Justice Secretary in 13 years

14:19 , Rachael Burford

Shadow justice secretary Steve Reed said that Alex Chalk, the new Justice Secretary, was the “11th Conservative Justice Secretary in 13 chaotic years that have destroyed the justice system”.

“Real change can only come with a Labour Government,” he said.

The Cheltenham MP takes over the department when victims, witnesses and defendants are waiting years for justice as courts are weighed down by huge backlog of cases,

The number of cases waiting to be heard has nearly doubled across England and Wales in the past four years, thanks to funding cutbacks, the pandemic and a feud between barristers and government over legal aid rates.

In London, data shows the capital’s crown courts are dealing with more than a quarter of the 60,898 backlog, compared with a 20 per cent share four years ago.

Raab faces £68k pay cut

14:34 , Rachael Burford

Mr Raab is set to lose almost £70,000 from his salary after quitting as Justice Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister.

The Esher and Walton MP is however entitled to a £17,000 pay-off, if he is not appointed to another ministerial post within three week.

He can choose to refuse the payment.

New Justice Secretary must ‘grasp the urgency’ of courts crisis

14:39 , Rachael Burford

New Justice Secretary Alex Chalk must “grasp the urgency” of the crisis in the courts system, the chair of Criminal Bar Association has said.

Kirsty Brimelow said: “We look forward to continuing the Criminal Bar’s ongoing constructive work with the new Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor to rebuild the criminal justice system.

“The new Secretary of State must grasp the urgency of following through the final part of the deal between the Ministry of Justice and the Criminal Bar Association.

“There remain insufficient barristers to prosecute and defend in trials before the courts. Medium and long-term reform must start if the criminal justice system is to be pulled out of crisis.”

Senior Tory MP to stand down at next general election

14:59 , Miriam Burrell

Julian Knight will stand down at the next general election following complaints.

The MP for Solihull made the announcement on Twitter on Friday afternoon. He claimed that a “false and malicious accusation” brought against him last December “did untold damage” to his health as well as causing “pain and distress” to loved ones.

He was suspended as a Tory after a serious sexual assault allegation was made against him, which the Metropolitan Police has since dropped.

Following their decision, Mr Knight made a request for “immediate return” to the parliamentary party – which was rejected following “further complaints.”

Read more here.

Pictured: New Justice Secretary meets with PM

15:16 , Miriam Burrell

After Dominic Raab’s resignation this morning, Alex Chalk was appointed as the new Justice Secretary.

He met with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at No 10 Downing Street earlier today.

Read more details about the Cabinet reshuffle here.

New deputy PM ‘deeply honoured'

15:40 , Miriam Burrell

Newly appointed Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden said he was “deeply honoured” to take on the role.

“I look forward to working even more closely with the Prime Minister as we tackle the issues that matter most to the people of this country,” he tweeted.

Who is the new Deputy Prime Minister?

15:54 , Miriam Burrell

Oliver Dowden is taking over as Rishi Sunak’s Deputy Prime Minister after Dominic Raab resigned earlier on Friday.

It is the latest title to be bestowed upon Mr Dowden, who as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Secretary of State in the Cabinet Office, already plays a key role at the heart of Rishi Sunak’s administration.

Mr Dowden was a vocal backer for Mr Sunak in both Tory leadership contests last year, with his entry to No 10 leading to his return to the frontbench and to the senior Cabinet Office roles.

The loss of crunch by-elections in Wakefield and Tiverton and Honiton had triggered Mr Dowden’s resignation as party chairman in Boris Johnson’s Government.

A recap: What does the report say about Dominic Raab?

16:32 , Miriam Burrell

If you’ve just joined us, here are some key points from the 47-page document by senior lawyer Adam Tolley KC:

• The inquiry found that former Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab acted in an “intimidating” and “aggressive” way with officials.

• Mr Raab displayed “unreasonably and persistently aggressive” conduct in a meeting. He made comments which were likely to “humiliate” and be interpreted as “unfairly personal criticism”, the report said.

• Mr Raab claimed there was “cultural resistance” to his flagship Bill of Rights and policies on parole reform in the Ministry of Justice.

• When frustrated that one of his “steers” about a proposed reform was not implemented, he was said to have described the work as “utterly useless” and “woeful”.

• Mr Tolleysaid: “I think that these were the words used; they comprised criticism that was not in the nature of constructive feedback.”

Labour: Dominic Raab leaves criminal justice system ‘in tatters’

16:45 , Miriam Burrell

Labour’s shadow justice secretary has attacked Dominic Raab’s record in office following his resignation.

Steve Reed said: “Dominic Raab has finally resigned without a word of apology for leaving the criminal justice system in tatters.

“His legacy is the longest trial delays on record, barely one in a hundred reported rapists being prosecuted, criminals dodging jail because the prisons are full and the Probation Service failing to supervise dangerous offenders, leaving the public at risk.

“We will increase the number of prosecutors to put dangerous criminals behind bars, introduce specialist rape courts to speed up justice for survivors and strengthen the use of community sentences to prevent reoffending.”

Dominic Raab blames ‘activist civil servants’

17:07 , Miriam Burrell

Dominic Raab has insisted he behaved appropriately as Deputy Prime Minister and blamed a few “very activist civil servants” for his downfall.

In an interview with BBC political editor Chris Mason just hours after he resigned from Cabinet, Mr Raab said of the report: “I do think it sets a very dangerous precedent.”

“If ministers can’t ask a direct question....how do we deliver for the British people?

“I’m sure I’ve made mistakes...if the threshold for bullying is so lowered that picking people up on bad work...if we can’t do those things it will ultimately be the public who pay the price.”

Dominic Raab claims 'passive aggressive’ culture among civil servants

17:13 , Miriam Burrell

In an interview with the BBC on Friday afternoon, former Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab claimed there was a “passive aggressive” culture among civil servants.

He claimed that some civil servants who didn’t agree with the Government’s reforms were “effectively trying to block” them.

“Almost all of the complaints against me were dismissed,” he told BBC political editor Chris Mason.

“None of the junior complaints were upheld. I got on with and dealt with hundreds of civil servants.”

Raab: ‘I don’t want to upset anyone'

17:18 , Miriam Burrell

When asked if he would apologise to civil servants in the wake of the report, Dominic Raab told the BBC: “Of course I don’t want to upset anyone, and I made clear I’m sorry for that, but that’s not bullying.

“We can’t deliver for the British people if the bar is that low.”

‘There will be a chilling effect on ministers’, Raab claims

17:33 , Miriam Burrell

Dominic Raab has claimed his phone “is lit up” with messages from other ministers “who fear they could be accused of these things” following the findings of the Adam Tolley KC report.

In an interview GB News on Friday, he said: “If these kind of things amount to bullying it will put a handbreak, a paralysing effect on ministers delivering for the British people and that can’t be right.”

Raab says there’s a ‘tyranny of subjective hurt feelings'

17:38 , Miriam Burrell

Dominic Raab told GB News: “Some people found my direct style of probing…unsettling or discomforting or even offensive.

“There’s a certain tyranny of subjective hurt feelings here…which, if you actually apply that across the board, means that senior ministers are at risk as they try and drive forward the change the British public expect.”

When asked if civil servants had undertaken a “co-ordinated political campaign”, the former Deputy Prime Minister said: “There was certainly some co-ordination.

“Put it this way, these claims, some were four and a half years old, they were all submitted on the same day.

“That can’t be coincidental. I also know I was warned by a very senior civil servant that there are increasingly activist civil servants mobilised by the FDA union who are looking to target ministers.”

SNP: Raab is ‘opting to blame civil servants for his own actions’

17:50 , Miriam Burrell

SNP leader at Westminster Stephen Flynn has said Dominic Raab’s comments about civil servants are “very unedifying” and “bizarre”.

Mr Raab accused “activist civil servants” and a “passive aggressive culture” for his downfall.

But Mr Flynn told the BBC that the former Deputy Prime Minister is “opting to blame civil servants for his own actions or his own inability to communicate like a rational human being”.

He added: “Dominic Raab is implying that civil servants should bow down to wishes, irrespective of how they’re conveyed.”

A by-election is needed in Raab’s constituency, LibDems say

18:17 , Miriam Burrell

There should now be a by-election in former deputy prime minister Dominic Raab’s Surrey constituency as he is “unfit” to be an MP, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has said.

Sir Ed was speaking as he knocked on doors in the Esher and Walton constituency, just hours after Mr Raab resigned from his top level post following a bullying investigation which upheld some allegations against him.

Sir Ed said: “Dominic Raab is not only unfit to be a minister but also a Member of Parliament.

“He should resign and trigger a by-election here in Esher and Walton so his constituents can get the MP they deserve.”

Alex Chalk ‘honoured’ to return to Ministry of Justice

19:05 , Miriam Burrell

The new Justice Secretary Alex Chalk said he is “honoured” to return to the Ministry of Justice.

He said the new role is “a hugely important brief that upholds the values of our great country – the rule of law, justice for victims and the right to a fair trial”.

Union hits back at Raab’s claims that “activist civil servants” blocked his reforms

19:19 , John Dunne

Dave Penman, the general secretary of civil servants union, the FDA claimed Raab the former Deputy Prime Minister had “concocted” a narrative of being surrounded by obstructive staff.

Penman said the term (activist civil servants) is “just the latest conspiracy” Raab “has concocted.”

He added: it “deflects from an independent investigations criticism of his conduct.”

The union leader called on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to step in to “defend the impartiality of the service.”

Live coverage ends

20:59 , Miriam Burrell

That’s all for our live coverage today.