On the 21st April 2023, Dominic Raab announced his resignation from the position of Deputy Prime Minister, Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary.
He resigned from all three positions. He has recently faced allegations of bullying and mistreatment of his staff during his time in government. The accusations have raised concerns about the prevalence of workplace bullying in England, and the legal frameworks in place to protect employees from such behaviour.
Raab’s departure from his position as the UK’s second-highest-ranking government official has been met with mixed reactions. Some see it as a significant blow to the Conservative party, while others have welcomed the move as a necessary step towards accountability, albeit Raab himself demonstrated little remorse.
In his resignation letter to the Prime Minister, Raab stated that he had taken the decision to resign following receipt of the report stating it is “important to keep my word”, but added that the inquiry into bullying claims against him was “flawed”, sets a “dangerous precedent” which will invite spurious complaints against ministers.
He also expressed his gratitude to the Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, for giving him the opportunity to serve in such a high-profile position.
The Prime Minister accepted Raab’s resignation with “great sadness”.
Raab’s resignation was not unexpected, given the criticism he had faced over the past few months. However, it has highlighted the ongoing issues within the Conservative party, with many questioning the Prime Minister’s leadership and the direction of the party.
In recent months, a number of allegations have been made against Raab, including claims that he used derogatory language towards his staff, belittled and shouted at them, and created a toxic working environment.
The allegations have been made by several individuals who worked for Raab during his time as both Foreign Secretary, Lord Chancellor (in his first spell in the position) and Deputy Prime Minister.
The allegations against Raab are not isolated incidents. Workplace bullying is a widespread problem in the UK, with a survey by the Trades Union Congress (TUC) finding that nearly a third of workers had been bullied in the workplace. The survey also found that over half of those who had experienced bullying did not report it, with many citing fear of retaliation as the main reason for not doing so.
In response to the allegations against Raab, there have been calls for stronger legal protections for employees who report bullying in the workplace. The UK’s current legal framework offers some protections for employees who speak out against bullying, but critics argue that it is not strong enough.
Under current English law, employees have the right to make a complaint about workplace bullying to their employer. If the employer fails to address the issue, the employee can take their case to an employment tribunal. However, the burden of proof falls on the employee, who must provide evidence of the bullying behaviour.
Critics argue that this puts too much pressure on the employee, and that the legal system should place more responsibility on the employer to create a safe and healthy working environment. They also argue that the penalties for employers who are found to have allowed bullying to take place are not severe enough to deter such behaviour.
The allegations of bullying against Dominic Raab have further highlighted the prevalence of workplace bullying, and the need for stronger legal protections for employees who speak out against it.
While the current legal framework offers some protections, critics continue to argue that more needs to be done to hold employers accountable for encouraging safe and healthy working environments and to create a culture in which bullying is not tolerated in any workplace.
Adam Tolley KC’s investigation report into the formal complaints about the conduct of the Dominic Raab can be read in full here.
Further reading
Bullying and harassment at work – Oakwood Solicitors
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On the 21st April 2023, Dominic Raab announced his resignation from the position of Deputy Prime Minister, Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary. He resigned from all three positions. He has recently faced allegations of bullying and mistreatment of his staff during his time in government. The accusations have raised concerns about the prevalence of…
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