The British Conservative Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, will delay until at least this Friday the publication of a report on allegations that his deputy and Justice Minister, Dominic Raab, committed workplace harassment against various officials during his tenure through different government portfolios between 2018 and 2022, despite having had hours to review the findings and come to a conclusion.
Sunak spent much of Thursday considering the findings of the independent inquiry into the allegations against Raab, his minister and most important ally. Downing Street explained yesterday that Sunak “carefully studies” the document prepared at his request by the lawyer Adam Tolley, after the Executive received eight formal complaints for his behavior when he was minister of Brexit (2018), Foreign Affairs (2019-2021) and in his first stage as Minister of Justice, between September 2021 and September 2022.
The report could result in the departure of a third chief minister over his personal conduct since Sunak entered Downing Street in October when he promised a government of integrity.
Raab applied for the review in November following formal complaints about his behavior by government officials, and Sunak appointed lawyer Adam Tolley to lead an independent inquiry.
Raab, who has vowed to resign if the allegations are confirmed, said he was confident he had conducted himself professionally throughout, while Sunak initially defended his deputy when the reports surfaced. The premier then said that he did not acknowledge the intimidation allegations.
Sunak, after becoming prime minister, vowed to create a government of “integrity, professionalism and accountability” following Boris Johnson’s scandal-plagued tenure and chaotic economic policies that took down Liz Truss in less than two months.
According to local media, it is probable that Tolley’s report, who was appointed by Sunak last November -after coming to power on October 25-, exposes the facts without ruling on his guilt. The verdict will rest with the prime minister, who will determine whether Raab has violated the ministerial code, which states that ministers must treat civil servants with respect.
If Raab is finally fired or resigns, the prime minister is expected to undertake a small ministerial reshuffle, while doubts persist as to whether he was aware of the complaints against his ally before appointing him again as head of Justice on October 25.
Opposition Liberal Democrats accused Sunak of “hesitating and delaying” the report.
Another of Sunak’s senior ministers, Gavin Williamson, was forced to resign in November following allegations of intimidation, and the prime minister sacked Conservative Party Chairman Nadhim Zahawi in January after he was found to have breached the ministerial code. regarding your tax matters.
Sunak is facing his own investigation by Parliament’s standards watchdog into his behavior over whether he correctly declared his wife’s shareholding in a childcare company that will benefit from the government’s new policy.
