Dominic Raab resigns: The key findings from the bullying investigation that sealed his destiny

After 5 months of investigation, the report into bullying allegations in opposition to Dominic Raab has been revealed.

Earlier, Mr Raab resigned as justice secretary and deputy prime minister – and revealed a damning 1,100-word essay within the Telegraph.

In his resignation letter to Rishi Sunak, the previous deputy PM claimed the investigation had been “flawed” and stated the conclusions “set a dangerous precedent for the conduct of good government”.

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The 47-page report compiled by unbiased investigator Adam Tolley examines the previous deputy prime minister’s behaviour in authorities, detailing eight accusations of bullying.

Here, Sky News rounds up the important thing findings of the prolonged report.

1) Raab acted in an ‘intimidating’ style – with ‘persistently aggressive conduct’

The probe, undertaken by Adam Tolley KC, discovered that Mr Raab acted in an “intimidating” style with “unreasonably and persistently aggressive conduct” in a piece assembly whereas he was overseas secretary.

Mr Tolley wrote that Raab’s conduct “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.”

The lawyer stated that Mr Raab “must have been aware of this effect”, or “reasonably” ought to have been.

This pertains to one in all two upheld complaints of bullying made in opposition to the ex-minister.

What has Mr Raab stated?

In his resignation letter to the prime minister, the previous minister stated the “two adverse findings” within the report are “flawed and set a dangerous precedent for the conduct of good government”.

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2) Perceived ‘threatening’ references to Civil Service Code

While overseas secretary, Mr Raab referred to the Civil Service Code in a means that he ought to have recognized may very well be seen as a “threat”, the report stated.

Mr Tolley wrote: “This had a significant adverse effect on a particular individual (a different person from the individual who made the FCDO Complaint), who took it seriously.”

This was described as a “form of intimidating behaviour, in the sense of conveying a threat of unspecified disciplinary action”.

“He did not target any individual, nor intend to threaten anyone with disciplinary action,” the report added. “However, he ought to have realised that referring in this way to the Civil Service Code could have been understood as such a threat.”

What has Mr Raab stated?

The now ex-minister confused in a 1,100 phrase essay revealed in The Telegraph how Mr Tolley concluded that he “never once swore or shouted at officials, let alone threatened, targeted or threw anything at them”.

3) He went past what was needed in offering ‘vital suggestions’

The second upheld criticism associated to Mr Raab’s time within the Ministry of Justice.

It discovered that, on plenty of events, at conferences with coverage officers, he “acted in a manner which was intimidating, in the sense of going further than was necessary or appropriate in delivering critical feedback”.

This was additionally described as “insulting” within the sense of “making unconstructive critical comments about the quality of work done.”

Mr Tolley goes on to stipulate particular examples – together with one through which Mr Raab described work completed as “utterly useless” and “woeful”.

What has Mr Raab stated?

He straight rebutted this discovering in his letter to Rishi Sunak, insisting that 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 from us”.

However, he did add: “Of course, this must be done within reasonable bounds.”

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4) Raab’s use of ‘bodily gestures’ – and banging on tables

In one other paragraph, Mr Tolley says he heard a “good deal of evidence” about Mr Raab’s “use of physical gestures in communication”. In one case, he stated: “This was put as extending his hand directly out towards another person’s face with a view to making them stop talking.

“Another instance of such an allegation was loud banging of the desk to make a degree.”

However, the report stated: “I used to be not satisfied that the DPM used bodily gestures in a threatening means, though these unused to this type of communication would possibly nicely have discovered it disconcerting.”

5) An abuse or misuse of energy – in a means that humiliates

In his conclusions, Mr Tolley once more referred to Mr Raab’s time as overseas secretary. He stated that, along with his “management choice”, Mr Raab “acted in a way that was intimidating, in the sense of unreasonably and persistently aggressive conduct in the context of a work meeting”.

Mr Tolley repeated that this concerned “an abuse or misuse of power in a way that undermines or humiliates”. He says it was “inevitable” that Mr Raab’s behaviour was perceived on this means by the affected individual.

What has Mr Raab stated?

In his essay, Mr Raab confused that the British public “expect ministers to exercise rigorous oversight over officials to prevent democratic mandates being unpicked, raise the game of underperforming parts of government, and prevent Whitehall from squandering taxpayers’ money.”

6) Raab cleared of swearing and shouting at employees

On one other word, the previous deputy prime minister was cleared of shouting and swearing at employees – as had been instructed.

Mr Tolley wrote in his report: “There was no persuasive evidence that the DPM shouted at individuals. I also conclude that he did not swear at any individual or swear more generally.”