25th Nov 2022 05:47
(Alliance News) - UK Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab has defended himself against allegations of bullying and using his personal email for government business as Rishi Sunak continued to back his embattled deputy.
Raab, also the justice secretary, said he had always adhered to the ministerial code and "behaved professionally" as fresh bullying claims emerged.
Downing Street said on Thursday Prime Minister Sunak still had full confidence in him as a number of Raab's former private secretaries were expected to lodge formal complaints against his conduct.
The allegations, if lodged, could be included in the investigation into Raab being carried out into two formal complaints of bullying by senior lawyer Adam Tolley.
Raab told the BBC: "I've behaved professionally at all times and I'm the one that when the complaint came in a matter of days ago, the first that has come against me since I've been a minister since 2015, called for an independent inquiry and I look forward to dealing with it fully and transparently rather than dealing with anonymous comments in the media.
"I always adhere to the ministerial code, including my use of my iPhone.
"I've always taken advice on the right means, particularly as foreign secretary and dealing with a whole range of sensitive issues, always been very careful to protect the integrity of any communications I have."
A source confirmed multiple senior officials who worked closely with Raab were preparing to submit the complaints, as first reported by Newsnight.
Liberal Democrat Chief Whip Wendy Chamberlain demanded an investigation after it also emerged Raab had used his personal email account for government business.
Allies of the justice secretary insisted there were no breaches of the ministerial code because he copied in an appropriate government email address when required by the guidance.
They also argued he was using his personal account just to approve tweets and quotes with his team at short notice.
But Chamberlain said: "The public deserve answers, not more cover-ups.
"The deputy prime minister cannot be relaxed about national security especially at a time when Britain's enemies are stepping up their cyber attacks.
"It is only right and proper the Cabinet Office investigate these reports and determine immediately if overseas enemies could have seen national secrets sent by Dominic Raab."
But Downing Street backed Raab and rejected suggestions the investigation would be a whitewash, despite Sunak's ability to reject its findings.
"It's a long-standing convention that the prime minister of the day is the arbiter of the (ministerial) code and the final decision-maker on these sorts of issues," the Prime Minister's official spokesman said.
"The investigator looking into this is highly experienced and has a suitable background, and is being given access to whatever they need to conduct a thorough and swift investigation."
The spokesman also defended Raab over his email use after Newsnight shared allegations he used his personal email account for government business at two different departments, as recently as last year.
"Ministers are able to use various forms of communication," he said.
"As long as they take heed of that guidance, there is not a binary restriction on use of personal email addresses."
Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner said: "There must be no hint of a whitewash when it comes to the slew of serious allegations the deputy prime minister now faces.
"The scope of this investigation must immediately be expanded to enable proactive investigation of Dominic Raab's behaviour during his time as a minister, including so-called expressions of concern, informal complaints and the concerning testimony of his own former permanent secretary."
source: PA
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