Dominic Raab is facing a further five formal complaints from Ministry of Justice civil servants over allegations of bullying behaviour during his previous stint running the department, No 10 has confirmed.
Downing Street announced that the justice secretary was under investigation for a total of eight separate incidents, with No 10 officials saying they want the independent inquiry concluded swiftly.
The deputy prime minister had vowed to “thoroughly rebut and refute” the three official complaints he was already facing, one from the MoJ and two others from his time as foreign secretary and Brexit secretary.
However, further formal allegations will come as a blow to Raab’s attempts to clear his name, and raise yet more questions about Rishi Sunak’s judgment in reappointing him to such a senior role.
The Guardian reported last month that senior MoJ civil servants were offered “respite or a route out” of the department when Raab was reappointed to the role in October, amid concerns that some were still traumatised by his behaviour during his previous stint there.
After the initial formal complaints, including a joint letter from junior MoJ staff who accused Raab of creating “a culture of fear” at the department, the Guardian also revealed that MoJ officials were planning to make further complaints about his alleged behaviour.
The fresh complaints are understood to be from senior civil servants with direct experience of alleged bullying and aggressive behaviour by the justice secretary when he was previously at the department. “They feel they need to stand shoulder to shoulder with more junior staff,” one source said.
Sunak has appointed a top employment barrister, Adam Tolley KC, who has experience of handling whistleblower claims, to investigate the formal complaints about his deputy. He will report to the prime minister, who will then decide whether Raab should face sanction.
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