Dominic Raab revealed to be paying for his own lawyers as he faces bullying probe – with report on Deputy PM’s treatment of officials expected within days
- The Cabinet minister is being probed over his behaviour towards civil servants
Dominic Raab is paying for his own lawyers as he faces an investigation into bullying claims against him, it was disclosed today.
The Deputy Prime Minister is continuing to be probed by top barrister Adam Tolley KC over his treatment of Whitehall officials.
Mr Tolley is expected to hand his findings to Rishi Sunak within days, at which point the Prime Minister will have to decide whether to keep Mr Raab in his job.
But the Cabinet minister’s determination to defend his reputation during Mr Tolley’s investigation has been revealed by the latest register of ministerial interests.
The document, published this morning, states that Mr Raab ‘has engaged lawyers at his own expense’ in relation to the barrister’s inquiry.
Dominic Raab is paying for his own lawyers as he faces an investigation into bullying claims against him, it was disclosed today
The latest register of ministerial interests states the Deputy PM ‘has engaged lawyers at his own expense’ in relation to the inquiry
Mr Raab is continuing to be probed by top barrister Adam Tolley KC over his treatment of Whitehall officials
The Deputy PM, who is also Justice Secretary, has previously said he is ‘confident’ he behaved ‘in a professional way’ throughout his time in various ministerial roles.
He is facing eight formal complaints about his behaviour, which reportedly involve multiple accusers, from across his time at the Ministry of Justice, Foreign Office and Department for Exiting the EU.
Mr Tolley’s probe into Mr Raab began in November amid lurid allegations about his treatment of civil servants.
This included the claim, which Mr Raab denies, that he once hurled tomatoes from a Pret A Manger salad across a table in a fit of rage.
Downing Street is braced to receive the findings from Mr Tolley’s investigation very shortly.
It is expected the barrister, described as ‘an encyclopaedia of employment law’, will present a factual report to the PM.
Mr Sunak will then have to take a decision as to whether Mr Raab can continue as a Cabinet minister.
Downing Street has previously stressed how Mr Sunak is the ultimate ‘arbiter’ on whether there has been a breach of ministerial rules.
‘We are under the impression that we will receive it this week,’ a government source told The Times.
‘It genuinely could go either way so we are preparing for everything.
‘If it is fairly clear-cut we would expect to publish quickly but it is only going to make findings of fact, so if it is more finely balanced it might take longer.’
Today’s publication of an updated register of ministerial interests comes after a near year-long wait for details of the financial affairs of Government members.
It followed a row over shares held by Mr Sunak’s wife Akshata Murty in a childcare company set to benefit from reforms to the sector announced at last month’s Budget.
The PM is under investigation by the House of Commons’ sleaze watchdog over his alleged failure to properly declare his wife’s interest in the Koru Kids firm.
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