Dominic Raab, the UK's deputy prime minister and justice secretary, has resigned following months of claims of bullying in the Ministry of Justice and other Whitehall agencies.

Raab, who is both the justice secretary and the deputy prime minister, has been accused of victimizing public personnel in three distinct government agencies. 

On November 14, 2022, the Daily Mirror reported that Raab was so rude to his employees during his term as foreign minister that people were "scared to go into his office," according to Simon McDonald, a former Foreign Office senior civil servant.

On November 11, 2022, The Guardian reported that 15 employees of the Ministry of Justice were reportedly offered "respite or a route out" after Raab's reappointment over concerns that his behavior may cause them to suffer from trauma.

The senior Conservative MP has received many official complaints about his interactions with civil workers, including charges, first disclosed by the Guardian, that he harassed and belittled colleagues, leading some to cry or vomit before meetings.

The resignation of such a close political friend is a significant blow to Rishi Sunak, who will face questions about his judgment after allowing Raab to remain in office while an inquiry was conducted by Adam Tolley KC, a famous employment attorney.

In his resignation letter, Raab stated that the findings of an investigation into his actions set a "dangerous precedent," but emphasized that he wanted to "keep his word" after promising to leave if the report ruled against him.

He released the report's findings, which were delivered to Rishi Sunak on Thursday morning, stating "it dismissed all but two of the claims leveled against me."

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He went on to say that the conclusions were "flawed and set a dangerous precedent for the conduct of good government."

Raab defended ministers' ability to "give direct critical feedback on briefings and submissions... in order to set the standards and drive the reform the public expects from us."

He apologized for any unintended stress or offense he caused but simultaneously stated that the report did not find him guilty of ever shouting or swearing at anyone, "let alone thrown anything or otherwise physically intimidated anyone, nor intentionally sought to belittle anyone."

Raab appeared to criticize the evidence against him, claiming that "in setting the threshold for bullying so low, this inquiry has set a dangerous precedent”.

“It will encourage spurious complaints against ministers, and have a chilling effect on those driving change on behalf of your government – and ultimately the British people.”Raab continued.

Raab stated that he addressed with Sunak "a number of improprieties" about the review of his behavior, including "the systemic leaking of skewed and fabricated claims to the media" in violation of the inquiry regulations and civil service code.

My resignation statement.👇 pic.twitter.com/DLjBfChlFq

— Dominic Raab (@DominicRaab) April 21, 2023

He also blasted a senior official's "coercive removal" of "dedicated" private office workers in October, saying both incidents should be investigated separately. Sunak could "count on my support from the backbenches," Raab said.

Raab's forced resignation as a minister is the second since Sunak became prime minister on October 25. Gavin Williamson resigned as a Cabinet Office minister in early November, following claims that he threatened a senior civil servant to "slit your throat" while he was defense secretary, as well as the publication of abusive communications to a Tory colleague.