(CNN) British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak suffered a major blow to his premiership on Friday when one of his closest allies resigned amid allegations that he had bullied officials.
In a letter of resignation published on Twitter on Friday, Dominic Raab said he had decided to step down as Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Minister after an official inquiry found some of the claims made against him were justified.
Raab’s review, conducted by independent investigator Adam Tolley, followed eight formal complaints about his conduct as Foreign Secretary, Brexit Secretary and Justice Secretary.
“I have requested the investigation and pledged to resign if bullying is found. I think it’s important to keep my word,” he said.
He added that the investigation into the allegation “dismissed all but two of the claims made against me” and “concluded that not once in four and a half years have I verbally abused or yelled at anyone, let alone thrown anything or otherwise physically intimidated.” nor have I intentionally tried to belittle anyone.”
He also said he believes the report is setting a “dangerous precedent by setting the threshold for bullying so low” and said its findings were “flawed”.
Raab has held several high-profile posts since joining the government as junior minister in 2015. In addition to serving as Deputy Prime Minister, he was also Minister of Justice and Lord Chancellor in Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s government.
He was foreign secretary during the Boris Johnson era but was removed after being heavily criticized following Britain’s withdrawal from Afghanistan. He was on vacation in Greece when the Taliban took control of Afghanistan.
He faced demands for his resignation after it was revealed that shortly before the fall of Kabul, he asked a deputy to handle an urgent call to the Afghan foreign minister regarding the evacuation of interpreters who had been working with the British forces. The call never took place.
Keir Starmer, the leader of the opposition Labor Party, criticized Sunak for letting Raab resign instead of firing him. Speaking to the BBC on Friday, Starmer said the decision showed the government’s “weakness from top to bottom”. “There is a double weakness here. He should never have appointed him and then he didn’t fire him,” he added.
Resignation could harm Sunak
Raab’s resignation is a blow to Sunak who, despite coming from the right-wing Conservative Party himself, has been portrayed as softer than his predecessors Liz Truss and Johnson.
The Johnson comparison is particularly relevant as Sunak acted as his Chancellor of the Exchequer during the Covid pandemic, only to offer his resignation as scandals engulfed the then Prime Minister. Johnson’s allies believe Sunak’s resignation ultimately spelled the end of his term and have not forgiven him.
Raab, who reminded Sunak in his resignation letter that he has been loyal since Sunak’s failed leadership bid last summer, is seen as a staunch Brexiteer and cornerstone of the party’s right. He caught the attention of the Eurosceptic movement in 2014 when he led a rebellion by 81 MPs against then Prime Minister and ardent Europhile David Cameron.
Raab bolstered Sunak’s far-right credentials and helped push through policies that required taking that section of the party with him. And while Raab has pledged his loyalty to Sunak, former ministers can cause trouble in the backbenches if they choose.
The question now is whether Raab wants that or not. He is genuinely loyal to Sunak and understands that Sunak is really a political ally to the right of the party. However, his letter of resignation implies that Raab was very unhappy at having to leave the government.
To what extent Raab was pushed or jumped will be revealed in the coming days. If it’s the former, he might have reason to make life difficult for Sunak later when he fights with Johnson’s allies on the party’s right.
Raab is the second Sunak ally to resign in less than six months over bullying allegations. Cabinet Secretary Gavin Williamson resigned in November over allegations he denied.