AMANDA PLATELL: Civil Service is plotting to destroy Dominic Raab

AMANDA PLATELL: What sickens me about the Dominic Raab bullying saga is how the Civil Service is plotting to destroy a good man’s career

The very public assault on the reputation of Dominic Raab reached fever pitch yesterday with absurd headlines claiming ‘he bullied staff like an abusive husband’ leaving some – of course unnamed – civil servants ‘feeling suicidal’.

The success of the campaign to bring down Tory chairman Nadhim Zahawi at the weekend has certainly fuelled the bloodlust of the Left and their fellow travellers in the anti-Tory media. Their eagerness to claim a second scalp is palpable, and there are few prizes richer than the head of the deputy PM.

As a result, Raab is now fighting for his political life as the eight formal complaints of bullying against him are supplemented by a raft of anonymous allegations.

What sickens me most, having worked at the heart of politics as former Tory leader William Hague’s press secretary, is the aggressive role the civil service is playing in trying to destroy Raab’s career.

Dave Penman, general secretary of civil servants’ union the FDA, yesterday called for Raab to be suspended while he is investigated over the allegations

Raab is now fighting for his political life as the eight formal complaints of bullying against him are supplemented by a raft of anonymous allegations

In the interests of full disclosure, I should say at this point that I’ve been on good terms with Dominic for many years and know him to be a clever, meticulous and plain-speaking man.

His biggest fault? I’d say an occasional lack of humour. During our first meeting when he asked my advice as a former Tory spin doctor I replied: ‘Smile a bit more’.

Yes, he’s serious, sometimes to the point of being dour. And, yes, he’s driven. But after speaking to a number of his colleagues – both senior and junior – over the past few days a consensus emerged.

Far from being a bully, Raab is someone who has ‘never shouted at anyone, ever, he has never sworn at anyone, ever’. He’s not a ranter nor a rager. They and I know it’s just not his style.

As former minister Helen Grant, who worked as a special envoy with Raab in the Foreign Office, has tweeted: ‘I witnessed a very decent, hard-working minister with high professional standards and a solid work ethic. Dominic has zero tolerance for bullying.’ And she’s not alone in holding this view. There are too many tweets and public messages of support for Raab for me to list here. Suffice to say the abusive person described by his enemies on the Left is unrecognisable to them.

I know Raab – who has a black belt in karate – to be a dedicated disciple of self-discipline.

And, boy, has he needed it over the years. As many a Tory minister will tell you, life in Whitehall involves working with civil servants who all too often resemble the obstructive mandarin Sir Humphrey Appleby in the TV series Yes, Minister – with a lot less wit and charm!

Meetings are held, action points tabled, decisions taken… eventually. But when it comes to execution a form of ‘passive aggression’ takes over.

As many a Tory minister will tell you, life in Whitehall involves working with civil servants who all too often resemble the obstructive mandarin Sir Humphrey Appleby in the TV series Yes, Minister

Civil servants not only duck and delay, but on occasion wilfully sabotage. And when they are called to account what do they do? They pull out the bullying card. In our increasingly woke world it’s shamefully easy for people to evoke sympathy for their workplace ‘plight’ when, in fact, all they’re being asked is to do their job properly.

I know what a pressure cooker Westminster can be. One moment you’re rejoicing over the launch of a major new policy, the next it’s derailed by a scandal, and it’s all hands on deck to recover the position.

In such circumstances, people can be volatile. I’m not as cool as Raab. I admit I’ve shouted at people… and they’ve shouted back. But never once was I accused of bullying. That said, this was 20 years ago when people – younger ones in particular – were made of sterner stuff. People should only enter this environment if they are passionate about effecting change and have the stamina to stand up for their beliefs.

At the beginning of the inquiry into his behaviour a determined Raab said he was ‘always mindful of the way I behave’, but ‘made no apologies for having high standards’.

Nor should he. If the qualities of being a selflessly diligent officer of His Majesty’s government – and asking the same of others – is a sin, then heaven help us all.

We’ve been here before. When former home secretary Priti Patel faced similarly lurid allegations three years ago, the then prime minister Boris Johnson stood by her. He resolutely refused to offer the Left a stake to burn her on. Rishi Sunak should take note.

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