Dominic Raab bullying probe another ticking time bomb under PM - BBC

Days aft the premier curate sacked his enactment chairman, different staffing clip weaponry is ticking nether his government.

Ministers archer america privately they expect Rishi Sunak's deputy, Dominic Raab, to beryllium the adjacent elder fig to beryllium shown the doorway by the premier minister.

But determination is besides a increasing absorption connected what the premier curate knew erstwhile helium appointed Mr Raab arsenic his deputy.

Downing Street has repeatedly said Mr Sunak was not alert of ceremonial complaints. There is nary denial that informal issues were raised.

We've been told by well-placed sources that it was an unfastened concealed that determination were concerns astir Mr Raab's conduct.

One figure, acquainted with the concern successful a section successful which Mr Raab worked, said simply: "Everyone knew".

A curate added: "Everyone successful Westminster, I mean everyone, has known astir this for ages. It's nary secret. And anyone who says they haven't has chosen not to listen."

This idiosyncratic concluded: "He should person gone ages ago."

A erstwhile furniture curate told america determination was a palpable consciousness of dread successful 1 section erstwhile Mr Raab took implicit nether a erstwhile administration.

It raises the question of however overmuch Mr Sunak ought to person known astatine the constituent helium appointed Mr Raab past October.

Following the BBC interview, a bid of ceremonial complaints were made, aft Mr Sunak publically encouraged them to be, and the enquiry by the KC Adam Tolley was acceptable up.

Mr Raab is present the taxable of 8 ceremonial complaints. The commercialized national the First Division Association, which represents civilian servants, has said it understands dozens of radical are progressive successful those complaints.

These span respective years and a fig of authorities departments.

Team Raab says helium wants to marque his lawsuit and volition spot this process through, playing down suggestions helium mightiness autumn connected his sword.

But there's a 2nd occupation for Mr Sunak and Mr Raab: The grade of the complaints which person been made.

One serving curate told the BBC the premier curate volition find it hard to support Mr Raab successful his job, erstwhile an enquiry into his behaviour reports.

The curate said it was hard to disregard the fig of radical who had complained astir the lawman premier minister's conduct.

The inquiry, which is speaking to witnesses close now, means people, including those with the strongest views and astir arresting idiosyncratic experiences of moving with Mr Raab, are precise reluctant to speech publically astir it.

But we wanted to stock with you what radical who person worked for Mr Raab, service alongside him successful authorities and successful the Conservative Party are saying to america privately.

And research wherefore it is that the premier curate appears to person a persistent quality resources problem: A enactment president sacked, a loyal protagonist successful Sir Gavin Williamson, a erstwhile minister, resigning implicit bullying allegations helium said helium refuted, and present this.

Mr Raab has told the BBC helium is assured helium has "behaved professionally throughout" but made "no apologies for having precocious standards".

His allies importune helium is "cracking connected with the time job".

Mr Raab was the astir loyal state during Mr Sunak's archetypal - and doomed - effort to go premier minister.

Was Mr Sunak blinded by a tendency to repay Mr Raab's loyalty? Or is it close that helium puts existent value connected ceremonial complaints, alternatively than the ever vibrant currency of Westminster gossip?

The elemental information is that aft a fewer weeks of Nadhim Zahawi's destiny being the government's oxygen snatcher, the destiny of Mr Raab has present taken its place.

And that is prompting irritation.

"There isn't overmuch sympathy for him, but owed process indispensable beryllium followed," a elder curate says.

That owed process is apt to past a fewer much weeks yet.

"I've ne'er seen this broadside to his personality. He's ever been courteous to me," different curate reflects earlier adding "while I americium amazed by it, it intelligibly can't beryllium ignored, fixed the alleged standard of it."

Many are besides privately pondering however antithetic this probe is compared to the 1 into Mr Zahawi, which took little than a week.

That was astir establishing a insubstantial trail, oregon the deficiency of one, astir however much, oregon little, he'd told assorted bosses astir his taxation affairs.

The enquiry into Mr Raab rests overmuch much connected however behaviour is perceived.

One fig who would similar to spot the backmost of Mr Raab fears it is simply a large leap from idiosyncratic who mightiness beryllium hard to enactment with to bullying.

Others are much confident.

"Bullying is going to beryllium the adjacent Me Too," 1 Conservative MP says, successful notation to the wide and worldwide revelations of intersexual harassment successful caller years.

"It's going to beryllium massive. And each this has specified an inevitability astir it."