Dominic Raab resignation: Bullying report’s findings clarify why resignation letter was so stuffed with anger

Viewers of Sky News may need observed the tone of the protection of Dominic Raab’s resignation evolve because the morning went on.

At the purpose of the announcement of his departure, all we had was Mr Raab’s resignation letter.

Bluntly, it appeared about as graceless as potential by the requirements of most resignation letters.

The former deputy prime minister seemed to be selecting a combat with nearly everyone.

Politics Hub: Follow the most recent updates on Raab’s resignation

It confirmed the investigating lawyer had upheld two allegations of bullying, however Mr Raab went straight to the circumstances he had been absolved on.

There was a partial apology if individuals had felt intimidated however a sturdy defence, claiming he maintains the best to push officers arduous.

Then the letter took purpose at officers and Mr Raab spent quite a lot of time defending himself in opposition to allegations that weren’t made. The tone was indignant. The temper bitter. It seemed bitter.

However, having now reviewed the Tolley report, it’s clear this case is extra nuanced than it first seems.

It will set off arguments each methods and can feed into the nationwide dialog about what’s and is not acceptable in terms of office conduct – you possibly can see why Downing Street took its time.

Adam Tolley did discover cases when Raab was “involved in an abuse or misuse of power in a way that undermines or humiliates”.

The report states: “In particular, he went beyond what was reasonably necessary in order to give effect to his decision and introduced a punitive element. His conduct was bound to be experienced as undermining or humiliating by the affected individual, and it was so experienced. I infer that the DPM must have been aware of this effect; at the very least, he ought reasonably to have been so aware.”

However, among the opposed judgements are extra advanced. Dominic Raab allotted “unfair personal criticism” in opposition to civil servants and was “abrasive”. Yet this was within the context the place he felt civil servants had not executed their job correctly and turned up inappropriately. Mr Tolley highlighted the actual fact the criticism wasn’t constructive – however is a minister not ever allowed to get indignant at poor outcomes from his staff?

Read extra:
Dominic Raab’s resignation letter in full
The rise and fall of the karate black belt who briefly ran the nation
Allegations in opposition to Dominic Raab defined

Mr Raab additionally alleges there was cultural resistance to his political agenda from some civil servants – whereas not possible to know if true, this may even complicate the response to this report.

On prime of that, the investigation discovered there was a gaggle of civil servants contained in the Ministry of Justice successfully campaigning to get him eliminated. Tolley discovered that amongst them have been individuals who had by no means met Mr Raab.

This will gasoline conspiracy theories that the civil service was actively working to dislodge a secretary of state.

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People take completely different views on what represents acceptable office practices. It’s clear working with Dominic Raab was removed from simple at occasions. Does it quantity to bullying? Was there a marketing campaign in opposition to him?

There’s sufficient in that report to offer either side – Raab’s detractors and supporters – some succour. That’s why the tone of the protection developed.