Raab was reappointed justice secretary and deputy prime minister by Rishi Sunak last month, holding the roles between September 2021 and September 2022 under Boris Johnson, but was sacked by Liz Truss for her short tenure. But some did not welcome his return to the Ministry of Justice, according to the Guardian, which said around 15 senior civil servants in his private office had been offered “retirement or exit” amid concerns that some were still traumatized by his previous tenure. . Politics Live: Kwarteng recalls ‘crazy’ sacking by Truss Sources said department heads had met with the team and acknowledged that Mr Raab’s reappointment could cause concern, with some staff crying foul and opting to move on. However, the paper also cited sources as suggesting that some staff members have since returned. Multiple Justice Department sources also said he had previously created a “culture of fear” in the department, claiming he was “humble rather than demanding” with civil servants and was “very rude and aggressive”, adding:[He] he wasn’t just unprofessional, he was a bully.” The newspaper also claimed that the permanent secretary, Antonia Romeo, warned Mr Raab to treat staff with respect on his return, with a source, who was not in the room at the time, saying she had “read him the riot act”. Asked to respond to the allegations, a Ministry of Justice spokesman said: “There is zero tolerance for bullying across the public service. “The Deputy Prime Minister leads a professional department, pushing forward important reforms, where civil servants are valued and the level of ambition is high.” A department source also told Sky News they would deny any suggestion of intimidation, saying Mr Raab “pride himself on his professionalism and has a good working relationship with officials he rates very highly”. They also said he had been a minister in several government departments for many years and had never faced an official complaint. Calling for investigation The claims come days after former minister Gavin Williamson resigned from the government after facing multiple bullying charges and also as questions remain over the re-hiring of Home Secretary Suella Braverman, who was brought back to the front six days after committing a breach safety and violation of the ministerial code. Labor deputy leader Angela Rayner called the allegations made against Mr Raab “deeply disturbing” and said they raised “even more questions about Rishi Sunak’s judgement”. He added: “With each new scandal and scandalous deal, it becomes more obvious that he is a weak leader, putting party management above the national interest. “He has claimed zero tolerance for bullying, promised a government of integrity and pledged to urgently appoint an ethics adviser, yet he has fallen far short of every promise. Rishi Sunak is already showing that he’s not just failing to stop the rot, he’s letting it fester. “ He joined calls by the Lib Dems for an inquiry into the allegations against Mr Raab. Lib Dem deputy leader Daisy Cooper said: “These latest reports cannot be swept under the carpet by Rishi Sunak. An investigation into Raab must be launched with immediate effect. “No staff, whether in the public service or in any other sector, should be subjected to work with or for a bully.” But colleagues working under the justice secretary elsewhere were quick to defend Tory MP Eddie Hughes: “When I got my first job as a PPS (parliamentary private secretary), I was told that Dom was demanding. “He works really hard and expects others to be too,” I was delighted. I wanted to work for someone who took their role seriously. “We got along great from the start. I never saw him be rude to anyone.” Another Tory Rachel Maclean responded to Mr Huges’ tweet, saying: “Neither did I when I worked with him on joint projects when I was at the Home Office. He has the high standards needed to deliver for the British people.”
