UK Justice Minister Dominic Raab resigns, accused of workplace bullying

UK Justice Minister Dominic Raab tendered his resignation on Friday following the release of a report confirming allegations against him for allegedly harassing civil servants in the workplace during his time in various ministerial portfolios.

In a letter released via Twitter, the Deputy Prime Minister, one of the closest allies of the head of the Conservative government, Rishi Sunak, explained that he would resign, as he had promised, if lawyer Adam Tolley’s report ” any finding of harassment”, despite denying having committed it.

“I have asked for the investigation and have promised to resign if it contains findings of ‘bullying’. It is important to me to keep my word,” he writes in his letter of resignation.

Despite everything, Raab believes that “by setting the bar for harassment so low, this investigation sets a dangerous precedent.”

He said it will encourage “false complaints against ministers” and will have a detrimental effect on “those driving change” in the Sunak government.

While the report has not yet been made public, Raab says the investigation has “ruled out all but two allegations (eight in total)” and that those two “contain errors.”

And he also believes ministers should have the capacity to provide “critical direct responses” to their subordinates.

Raab’s resignation represents a major political setback for the prime minister, who has enjoyed his support from the very first moment he launched his candidacy to lead the Conservative Party.

Sunak is now expected to make a minor ministerial reshuffle, while doubts remain as to whether he was aware of the complaints against his ally before re-appointing him as chief of justice on Oct. 25.