London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Saturday, Jun 21, 2025

Dominic Raab should be suspended, says ex-Conservative chairman

Dominic Raab should be suspended, says ex-Conservative chairman

Dominic Raab should be suspended as deputy prime minister until an inquiry into bullying allegations against him is over, an ex-Tory chairman has said.
Speaking to the BBC, Jake Berry said MPs and ministers were "not some form of special human being" and should be treated "like anyone else".

Mr Raab, also the justice secretary, is facing several complaints from civil servants who have worked with him in a range of government departments.

He has denied allegations of bullying.

In November, Mr Raab asked Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to launch an investigation into his own conduct after claims emerged about his behaviour towards staff.

The inquiry - led by senior lawyer Adam Tolley KC - is ongoing, but Mr Sunak has come under pressure to suspend Mr Raab until it is concluded.

Mr Berry, who was Conservative Party chairman in 2022, told Radio 4's Week in Westminster: "It would be very bizarre if you had someone in any other workplace who wasn't suspended pending that investigation.

"MPs and ministers are not some form of special human being - I think they should just be treated like anyone else is in their workplace."

He said there should be a formal mechanism whereby ministers could be suspended during investigations.

Currently, it is not possible for a prime minister to formally temporarily remove a minister - although they could sack someone with the understanding the minister would return if cleared by an investigation.

Hannah White, from the Institute for Government think tank, says introducing a formal suspension mechanism could have some advantages - including allowing a minister to claim back lost salary if an inquiry concluded they had not broken any rules.

However, she says it could discourage prime ministers from ordering investigations in the first place and increase ministerial turnover.

Asked about Mr Sunak's handling of the standards issues, Mr Berry said: "We have a system in Parliament that you're either in a job or you're not in a job

"The way these sort of complaints would be dealt with in the private sector is you would be suspended while they were investigated."

Labour and the Liberal Democrats, as well as the FDA union for senior civil servants, have also called for Mr Raab's suspension.

Mr Sunak has said he will wait for the outcome of Mr Tolley's inquiry before taking any action.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Political Turmoil Resurfaces in Belgium Amid Economic Concerns
Fed policymakers divided on timing of interest rate cuts
Trump signals imminent agreement with Harvard University
Inheritance tax referendum alarms Swiss billionaire community
Japan cancels bilateral security meeting amid US defence demands
AI skeptic Emily Bender warns that ‘the emperor has no clothes’
Israel Confirms Assassination of Quds Force Commander in Tehran
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
FBI and Senate Investigate Allegations of Chinese Plot to Influence the 2020 Election in Biden’s Favor Using Fake U.S. Driver’s Licenses
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
Plans to Sell Dutch Embassy in Bangkok Face Local Opposition
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump's $5 Million 'Trump Card' Visa Program Draws Nearly 70,000 Applicants
DGCA Finds No Major Safety Concerns in Air India's Boeing 787 Fleet
Airlines Reroute Flights Amid Expanding Middle East Conflict Zones
Elon Musk's xAI Seeks $9.3 Billion in Funding Amid AI Expansion
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Taiwan Imposes Export Ban on Chips to Huawei and SMIC
Israel has just announced plans to strike Tehran again, and in response, Trump has urged people to evacuate
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Juncker Criticizes EU Inaction on Trump Tariffs
EU Proposes Ban on New Russian Gas Contracts
Analysts Warn Iran May Resort to Unconventional Warfare
Iranian Regime Faces Existential Threat Amid Conflict
Energy Infrastructure Becomes War Zone in Middle East
UK Home Secretary Apologizes Over Child Grooming Failures
Trump Organization Launches 5G Mobile Network and Golden Handset
Towcester Hosts 2025 English Greyhound Derby Amid Industry Scrutiny
Gary Oldman and David Beckham Knighted in King's Birthday Honours
Over 30,000 Lightning Strikes Recorded Across UK During Overnight Storms
Princess of Wales Returns to Public Duties at Trooping the Colour
Red Arrows Use Sustainable Fuel in Historic Trooping the Colour Flypast
Former Welsh First Minister Addresses Unionist Concerns Over Irish Language
Iran Signals Openness to Nuclear Negotiations Amid Ongoing Regional Tensions
France Bars Israeli Arms Companies from Paris Defense Expo
King Charles Leads Tribute to Air India Crash Victims at Trooping the Colour
Jack Pitchford Embarks on 200-Mile Walk to Support Stem Cell Charity
Surrey Hikers Take on Challenge of Climbing 11 Peaks in a Single Day
UK Deploys RAF Jets to Middle East Amid Israel-Iran Tensions
Two Skydivers Die in 'Tragic Accident' at Devon Airfield
Sainsbury's and Morrisons Accused of Displaying Prohibited Tobacco Ads
UK Launches National Inquiry into Grooming Gangs
Families Seek Closure After Air India Crash
Gold Emerges as Global Safe Haven Amid Uncertainty
Trump Reports $57 Million Earnings from Crypto Venture
Trump's Military Parade Sparks Concerns Over Authoritarianism
×