Dominic Raab says in his resignation letter as deputy prime minister it’s “important to keep my word”, however provides the inquiry into bullying claims in opposition to him units a “dangerous precedent”.
In the prolonged two-page letter to Rishi Sunak, he reveals that senior lawyer Adam Tolley upheld two of the eight allegations in opposition to him.
Mr Raab denied the allegations and requested an investigation into himself after two formal complaints have been made.
The prime minister acquired the report on Thursday and had been contemplating the findings since – this is the complete letter from Mr Raab.
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“Dear Prime Minister,
“I’m writing to resign out of your authorities, following receipt of the report arising from the inquiry carried out by Adam Tolley KC. I known as for the inquiry and undertook to resign, if it made any discovering of bullying in any respect. I consider you will need to maintain my phrase.
“It has been a privilege to serve you as deputy prime minister, Justice Secretary and Lord Chancellor. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to work as a minister in a range of roles and departments since 2015, and pay tribute to the many outstanding civil servants with whom I have worked.
“Whilst I really feel responsibility sure to simply accept the end result of the inquiry, it dismissed all however two of the claims levelled in opposition to me. I additionally consider that its two hostile findings are flawed and set a harmful precedent for the conduct of excellent authorities.
“First, ministers must be able to exercise direct oversight with respect to senior officials over critical negotiations conducted on behalf of the British people, otherwise the democratic and constitutional principle of ministerial responsibility will be lost. This was particularly true during my time as foreign secretary, in the context of the Brexit negotiations over Gibraltar, when a senior diplomat breached the mandate agreed by cabinet.
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“Second, ministers should be capable to give direct crucial suggestions on briefings and submissions to senior officers, with a view to set the requirements and drive the reform the general public anticipate of us. Of course, this have to be performed inside affordable bounds. Mr Tolley concluded that I had not as soon as, in 4 and a half years, sworn or shouted at anybody, not to mention thrown something or in any other case bodily intimidated anybody, nor deliberately sought to belittle anybody. I’m genuinely sorry for any unintended stress or offence that any officers felt, because of the tempo, requirements and problem that I dropped at the Ministry of Justice. That is, nonetheless, what the general public anticipate of ministers engaged 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.
“Finally, I raised with you a variety of improprieties that got here to mild through the course of this inquiry. They embody the systematic leaking of skewed and fabricated claims to the media in breach of the foundations of the inquiry and the Civil Service Code of Conduct, and the coercive removing by a senior official of devoted Private Secretaries from my Ministry of Justice non-public workplace, in October of final yr. I hope these shall be independently reviewed.
“I remain as supportive of you and this government, as when I first introduced you at your campaign leadership launch last July. You have proved a great prime minister in very challenging times, and you can count on my support from the backbenches. Yours sincerely, Dominic Raab.”
The full inquiry has not but been revealed by Downing Street, however Mr Raab in his resignation warned that the probe’s findings would have damaging penalties for presidency.
The MP for Esher and Walton mentioned he was “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”.
He additionally instructed Mr Sunak that he remained totally supportive of him and the federal government.
Content Source: information.sky.com