Under-fire Dominic Raab 'won't quit' amid bullying allegations

Under-fire Dominic Raab ‘won’t quit’ amid bullying allegations as two mandarins back him

• The Deputy PM is facing numerous allegations about his past conduct in office
• Several of Raab’s former staff said yesterday there was no unreasonable conduct
• Read more: Pressure mounts on ‘rude and abrasive’ Raab over bullying claims 

Two senior civil servants have backed Dominic Raab as he battles claims that he bullied staff.

The Deputy Prime Minister is facing a string of allegations about his past conduct in a number of government departments.

But a Whitehall source said that at least two senior officials have given evidence to an inquiry into the alleged conduct supporting Mr Raab, with one claiming he is the victim of a ‘disgraceful’ campaign of character assassination.

Rishi Sunak appointed lawyer Adam Tolley to investigate in November last year after one official lodged a formal complaint. 

A further seven complaints about separate incidents have since been submitted.

Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak during Prime Minister’s Questions in the House of Commons on Wednesday

A former colleague said: ‘There is a clear attempt by a group of politically motivated mandarins to get him – it looks like a co-ordinated attempt by a number of senior civil servants. 

‘In one case it looks like revenge as the individual was effectively forced out by the Government.’ 

Several of Mr Raab’s former staff yesterday said they had not witnessed unreasonable conduct. 

One said he was ‘demanding, sometimes difficult and a bit curt – but not a bully’.

The FDA union of senior civil servants called for Mr Raab’s suspension. 

General secretary Dave Penman said: ‘If that was a permanent secretary in the civil service, they would in all likelihood be suspended while the investigation took place.’

A spokesman for Mr Raab last night rejected reports suggesting he could quit before the bullying probe is concluded.

Tory grandee Sir Bernard Jenkin backed Mr Sunak’s decision to keep Mr Raab in post, telling BBC Radio 4’s World At One: ‘If you’re at the top of the Civil Service or working closely with ministers, if you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.’

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