On the heels of an inquiry into allegations of bullying levied against him, United Kingdom (UK) Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab has resigned.
Raab in a letter addressed to British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and made public on his Twitter account stated that he “called for the inquiry and undertook to resign, if it made any finding of bullying whatsoever. I believe it is important to keep my word.”
Recall that Sunak had earlier launched an independent investigation into Raab’s behavior in Noveber, after eight formal complaints were lodged by at least 24 staff members during Raab’s time as justice minister, foreign minister and Brexit minister.
Sunak said in a statement Friday that it was “with great sadness” that he had accepted Raab’s resignation, while noting “shortcomings in the historic process that have negatively affected everyone involved.”
“You had – rightly – undertaken to resign if the report made any findings of bullying whatsoever. You have kept your word,” he added.
The findings of the report, which were delivered to Sunak on Thursday, were released shortly after Raab’s resignation.
Raab said the investigation carried out by senior lawyer Adam Tolley had dismissed all but two of the claims levied at Raab, which he noted are “flawed and set a dangerous precedent for the conduct of good government.”
“Mr Tolley concluded that I had not once, in four and a half years, sworn or shouted at anyone, let alone thrown anything or otherwise physically intimidated anyone, nor intentionally sought to belittle anyone,” Raab wrote in reference to some of the claims leveled against him.
“I am genuinely sorry for any unintended stress or offence that an officials felt, as a result of the pace, standards and challenge that I brought to the Ministry of Justice,” he added.
