Dominic Raab bullying report has led to ‘full breakdown in belief between ministers and civil servants’, thinktank says

The investigation into claims former deputy prime minister Dominic Raab bullied employees has led to a “complete breakdown” in belief between ministers and civil servants, a thinktank has stated.

Alex Thomas, programme director on the Institute for Government, stated the inquiry has uncovered “deep flaws” within the course of for dealing with poor ministerial behaviour and that elevating a criticism continues to be seen as “a sure-fire way to end a civil service career”.

Mr Raab, who had been a detailed ally of Mr Sunak, resigned as deputy prime minister and justice secretary on Friday after a report upheld two out of eight bullying complaints towards him.

In the aftermath of his resignation, Mr Raab launched a tirade towards “activist civil servants” who he argued had the power to face in the best way of minister’s democratic mandate by making complaints about ministers charged with implementing modifications.

He added the inquiry had set a “dangerous precedent” by setting a “low” threshold for bullying, which he stated will “encourage spurious complaints”.

‘A systemic downside’

Reacting to the report printed by impartial investigator Adam Tolley KC, Mr Thomas stated: “(The) system can only function if there is a high level of trust between politicians and the officials who serve them.

“The Raab mess has meant an entire breakdown, with leaks and acrimony amongst all events, ending a ministerial profession and leaving officers disillusioned and in some instances traumatised.”

Criticising the complaints course of, he added: “The reality is that this can be very tough for junior personal secretaries and others to register formal considerations. The sturdy profession incentive is to not make a fuss, to point out most resilience and to assist clean away behaviour issues moderately than handle the underlying situation.

“That is the reason it took a co-ordinated group of junior staff to make a complaint: not a conspiracy but a systemic problem.”

Sunak accepted Raab’s departure with ‘nice unhappiness’

Mr Sunak had acquired Mr Tolley’s report on Thursday morning however had spent near 24 hours deliberating over whether or not to sack his deputy earlier than Mr Raab determined to stroll.

In a letter to Mr Raab, the prime minister stated he accepted the resignation with “great sadness”.

He additionally stated there had been “shortcomings in the historic process that have negatively affected everyone involved”, including: “We should learn from this how to better handle such matters in future.”

Read extra:
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Allegations towards Dominic Raab defined

Raab was ‘intimidating’ to employees

Mr Raab’s conduct had a “significant adverse effect” on one colleague and he was additionally discovered to have been “intimidating” to employees by criticising “utterly useless” and “woeful” work whereas justice secretary, the report stated.

Though he stopped wanting describing the conduct as bullying, Mr Tolley’s findings have been in step with what he stated would quantity to the offence underneath the ministerial code.

Bullying complaints described as ‘snowflakery’

Dave Penman, common secretary of the FDA – a union representing senior civil servants, together with a few of the complainants towards Mr Raab – known as for an impartial inquiry into ministerial bullying and a change to how complaints are dealt with following the investigation.

Number 10 has vowed to study the teachings by way of coping with considerations about working practices in a “timely manner” however has to date refused to undertake a shake-up of the inner authorities complaints course of.

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Meanwhile, a number of Tory MPs have spoken out towards Mr Tolley’s findings.

Former minister Jacob Rees-Mogg described complaints towards Mr Raab as “snowflakery” in an interview with GB News.

Junior whip Joy Morrissey tweeted: “Sadly, we now live in a country where the definition of bullying includes telling someone to do their job. Where the slightest upset or annoyance is indulged with endless reports and inquiries.

“Where whining, taking offence and narcissistic victimhood have develop into the defining traits of our occasions – because the uncomplaining and silent majority look on in disbelief.”