London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Monday, Jul 07, 2025

Dominic Raab: Third senior civil servant gives evidence to bullying probe

Dominic Raab: Third senior civil servant gives evidence to bullying probe

At least three senior civil servants who worked with Dominic Raab have given evidence to the inquiry into his behaviour.
The BBC has been told one is Sir Philip Rycroft, who ran the Department for Exiting the European Union when Mr Raab was Brexit Secretary.

Another, the BBC understands, is the current permanent secretary at the Ministry of Justice, Antonia Romeo.

Mr Raab, the current justice secretary, has denied allegations of bullying.

A third permanent secretary from a department in which Mr Raab served has also told the BBC they have been interviewed as a witness.

Permanent secretaries are the UK's most senior civil servants who run government departments.

Mr Raab, who is also deputy prime minister, is facing multiple complaints from civil servants, who have worked with him in a range of government departments.

Senior lawyer Adam Tolley KC was asked to launch an investigation in November and his interviews have been taking place in recent weeks.

On Monday, the BBC reported that at least one permanent secretary who worked with Mr Raab had given evidence to the inquiry.

Now the BBC has learned two others have also provided evidence.

It is understood Mr Raab has had an initial meeting with Mr Tolley but has not yet sat down with him for a substantial conversation about the allegations against him.

Mr Tolley's report is not expected to be completed for several weeks.

Privately, many Conservative MPs, including ministers, fear the allegations could yet cost Mr Raab his job.

One minister told the BBC "he should have gone ages ago", describing the situation as a "ticking timebomb", adding that Mr Raab was "totally unsuitable for high office".

Someone else who worked with Mr Raab said his behaviour was "arbitrary, pernickety" and he was "very hard on junior staff" and "extremely difficult to work with".

But one former senior civil servant who worked with Mr Raab said: "He was very professional to me."

He described Mr Raab as "incredibly hard working" and "very demanding".

"Being on the end of his expectations wouldn't be nice if you're not prepared for it. It's tough. There's perfectionism there," he added.

"He had a view how he wanted things done. He expected delivery but doesn't understand how to get it done."

Labour and the Liberal Democrats have called on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to suspend Mr Raab while he is under investigation.

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

Former Conservative cabinet minister Jacob Rees-Mogg said it was "completely sensible" for Mr Raab to remain in post while the investigation is ongoing.

Asked about the allegations against the deputy prime minister, Mr Rees-Mogg told Sky News: "I think we've got to be slightly careful about the bullying allegations.

"We mustn't be too snowflakey about it. People need to be able to say this job has not been done well enough and needs to be done better."

The comments were described as "outrageous" by the FDA union, which represents civil servants.

The union's general secretary, Dave Penman, accused Mr Rees-Mogg of "trivialising bullying that we know has ruined lives and careers".

Labour said Mr Rees-Mogg was "seeking to belittle the serious claims of bullying and intimidation" made against Mr Raab and "he should be ashamed of himself".

Mr Raab was justice secretary and deputy prime minister in Boris Johnson's government.

He was sacked by Liz Truss, who briefly replaced Mr Johnson at No 10, but was reappointed to these roles by her successor Mr Sunak.

Mr Raab previously served in the cabinet as foreign secretary from 2020-21 and Brexit secretary in 2018.

Last week, Mr Raab told the BBC: "I'm confident I behaved professionally throughout, and of course the government takes a zero-tolerance approach to bullying."

Mr Raab added that he was "always mindful of the way I behave" but made "no apologies for having high standards".
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
U.S. Enacts Sweeping Tax and Spending Legislation Amid Trade Policy Shifts
Football Mourns as Diogo Jota and Brother André Silva Laid to Rest in Portugal
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
London Stock Exchange Faces Historic Low in Initial Public Offerings
A new online platform has emerged in the United Kingdom, specifically targeting Muslim men seeking virgin brides
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
Music Banned by Henry VIII to Be Performed After 500 Years
Steve Coogan Says Working Class Is Being ‘Ethnically Cleansed’
Home Office Admits Uncertainty Over Visa Overstayer Numbers
JD Vance Questions Mandelson Over Reform Party’s Rising Popularity
Macron to Receive Windsor Carriage Ride in Royal Gesture
Labour Accused of ‘Hammering’ Scots During First Year in Power
BBC Head of Music Stood Down Amid Bob Vylan Controversy
Corbyn Eyes Hard-Left Challenge to Starmer’s Leadership
London Tube Trains Suspended After Major Fire Erupts Nearby
Richard Kemp: I Felt Safer in Israel Under Attack Than in the UK
Cyclist Says Police Cited Human Rights Act for Riding No-Handed
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Musk Battles to Protect Tesla Amid Trump Policy Threats
Air France-KLM Acquires Majority Stake in Scandinavian Airlines
UK Educators Sound Alarm on Declining Child Literacy
Shein Fined €40 Million in France Over Misleading Discounts
Brazil’s Lula Visits Kirchner During Argentina House Arrest
Trump Scores Legislative Win as House Passes Tax Reform Bill
Keir Starmer Faces Criticism After Rocky First Year in Power
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
Poland Implements Border Checks Amid Growing Migration Tensions
Political Dispute Escalates Between Trump and Musk
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Amazon Reaches Milestone with Deployment of One Millionth Robot
US Senate Votes to Remove AI Regulation Moratorium from Domestic Policy Bill
Yulia Putintseva Calls for Spectator Ejection at Wimbledon Over Safety Concerns
Jury Deliberations in Diddy Trial Yield Partial Verdict in Serious Criminal Charges
House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Former Jill Biden Aide Amid Investigation into Alleged Concealment of President Biden's Cognitive Health
King Charles Plans Significant Role for Prince Harry in Coronation
Two Chinese Nationals Arrested for Espionage Activities Against U.S. Navy
Amazon Reaches Major Automation Milestone with Over One Million Robots
Extreme Heat Wave Sweeps Across Europe, Hitting Record Temperatures
×