UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak still has full trust in Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab as he faces further complaints about his actions, No. 10 said.
This follows news that Senior Attorney Adam Tory KC has been appointed by Sunak to investigate two formal complaints of bullying by Deputy Prime Minister Raab.
on thursday BBC news nightusing an unnamed source, claimed that Raab faced new complaints from senior civil servants across multiple government departments.
of Guardian .
Raab requested an investigation into the two formal complaints on 16 November.
“I believe I behaved professionally, but of course I look forward to being fully engaged and being transparent about any allegations,” Raab said. .
he posted on twitter “I look forward to addressing these complaints and continuing as Deputy Prime Minister, Attorney General and Prime Minister,” he said.
Investigator
Downing Street backed Raab on Thursday. Snack previously said he had received no “formal complaints” about his conduct.
An official spokesman for the prime minister said, “It is a longstanding practice that the then prime minister is the arbiter of (ministerial) legislation and the ultimate decision maker on matters of this nature.”
“The investigators investigating this are experienced, have the right background and have been given access to what they need to conduct a thorough and expeditious investigation,” he added. rice field.
tree is appointed Reported by the Prime Minister and reported to him. This is to “establish certain facts and provide his findings” regarding formal complaints made against Raab at the Ministry of Justice and Foreign Affairs.
“It gives him access to all the information he wants to see,” Tolley said.
“He has been asked to investigate these two formal complaints in order to establish the facts. Also, if he wishes to discuss other issues that may arise, he can also discuss them with the Prime Minister. ‘ he said.
The government said it would release the full text of its findings.
“The investigation is ongoing. I do not intend to provide running commentary on what constitutes an independent and understandably confidential process,” he added.
“plaster”
writing twitter, Labor deputy leader and shadow secretary of state Angela Rayner said “there should be no signs of deception.”
“Rishi Sunak’s ‘independent investigation’ covers only two complaints against Dominic Raab. We need to expand immediately so that we can investigate the many allegations of concern regarding his lieutenant’s actions,” she added.
Liberal Democrat leader Wendy Chamberlain MP said the prime minister should remove him if the complaint against Raab is upheld.
news night He also used personal emails for government business to make claims about Raab.
Downing Street said ministers were allowed to use private emails within the terms of existing guidance following allegations that Raab used personal accounts for government business.
An official spokesman for the prime minister said:
“There are no binary restrictions on the use of personal email addresses as long as they heed that guidance.”
Suella Braverman resigned as UK Home Secretary on 19 October. This was after it was discovered that she had sent confidential documents from her personal email account to Conservative MPs on the backbench, in violation of Ministerial Regulations. She was forced into her resignation by then-Prime Minister Liz Truss, but he reappointed her as her Home Secretary on 25 October, hours after Sunak replaced Truss as prime minister.
PA Media contributed to this report.
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Owen Evans is a UK-based journalist with a particular interest in civil liberties and free speech, covering a wide range of national stories.