Dominic Raab says it would be ‘improper’ to discuss bullying investigation after ‘coercive behaviour’ claims

Dominic Raab has refused to comment on bullying allegations after officials who worked with him told Sky News he repeatedly reduced staff to tears and “ruined people’s lives” through “coercive behaviour”. 

The deputy prime minister said it would be “improper” to discuss the comments given to our political editor, Beth Rigby, including that he “put the fear of God” into junior staff, amid an ongoing investigation into his conduct.

“I’ve said that I will co-operate fully with the inquiry, but I’m not going to comment on anonymous sources in the media,” he told Sky News.

“In fact, it’s a breach of the rules of the inquiry for anyone to do so and of course I want to respect that.”

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Independent lawyer Adam Tolley KC is looking into a number of formal complaints made by senior civil servants against Mr Raab.

Asked whether he recognised some of the behaviour he had been accused of by anonymous sources, Mr Raab insisted: “It is actually improper for me to comment on the question you have just asked, it is a breach of the rules of the inquiry…

“As a matter of professional integrity, I’m not going to do that.”

Pressed on his relationship with civil servants, he added: “Of course you want to have a positive relationship. With the vast majority of people that I do, that is the case. But I’m not going to comment on the allegations or the claims.”

Mr Raab, the justice secretary, went on to say he “absolutely” sets the highest standards for people that work with him.

Asked if that bar can sometimes be difficult for staff to meet, he said: “I think in any walk of life, whether you’re in the media, in sport, in a CEO of a big business, let alone in government, you want to set high standards because that’s what you deliver.

“Of course I’m going to do everything I can to drive the reforms that we’ve been able to announce today and in other areas as well.”

The government announced on Friday that domestic abusers with a history of coercive or controlling behaviour will be given tougher sentences if they kill their partner.

Mr Raab has also suggested criminals who fail to turn up in court to hear their judgment should face longer behind bars.

The announcements come as his political future hangs in the balance amid the bullying investigation.

The cabinet minister has strongly denied the allegations, saying he “behaved professionally at all times”, but said he will resign if the claims against him are upheld.

Asked directly if he would still resign on Friday following the latest claims, he said he hadn’t changed his view.

Sky News spoke to individuals across various government departments who raised concerns about his treatment of colleagues.

One source told Beth Rigby Mr Raab “put the fear of God” into junior staff and officials were “nervous about going into meetings with him because they feared having strips torn off them or an unpleasant encounter”.

“It was not a good place to be,” they added.