Britain Employs Lawyer to Dig Into Deputy Prime Minister Raab’s Bullying
Following two formal complaints about the behavior of the deputy prime minister, Dominic Raab, the latest instance of alleged bullying in government, Britain on Wednesday chose a barrister to head an independent probe.
The probe would be led by Adam Tolley, a lawyer at Fountain Court Chambers, according to the government’s terms of reference, which did not specify when it would be finished.
The administration stated, “The investigator will proceed on the basis that the probe should be finished as soon as possible. “The investigation’s report will be made available to the public.”
Two distinct complaints, one from his time as foreign minister and the other from his time as justice minister, Mr. Raab claimed in a letter to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak last week.
He asked that the complaints be the subject of an impartial investigation.
However, several employees who worked for Mr. Raab claimed that he was a strict and demanding manager, while others who were interviewed by local media described him as a bully who was nasty and violent. The claims had been refuted by Mr. Raab.
Meanwhile, Mr. Sunak pledged that his administration will act with “purity, professionalism, and responsibility” in his first speech as prime minister in October.
According to the investigation’s terms of reference, the prime minister would make the final determination of whether Mr. Raab had violated the ministerial code.
Mr. Sunak had backed his deputy, claiming that Mr. Raab had not bullied employees in the ways claimed.
Gavin Williamson, a cabinet minister, resigned from the government earlier this month over accusations that he had intimidated colleagues. Opposition parties claimed the situation raised concerns about Sunak’s judgment only a few weeks into the role.
Reuters
