UK PM Sunak delays publication of bullying report into his deputy Raab

LONDON – British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak would delay until at least Friday the publication of a report into claims that his deputy bullied staff, two government officials said, despite having had hours to review the findings and reach a conclusion.

Mr Sunak spent much of Thursday considering the findings of the independent investigation into claims against Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab, his most senior minister and ally.

The report could result in the departure of a third senior minister over personal conduct since Mr Sunak entered Downing Street last October and

would be a major embarrassment as he took office promising a government of integrity.

The review was requested by Mr Raab last November following formal complaints about his behaviour by government officials, and Mr Sunak appointed lawyer Adam Tolley to lead an independent investigation.

Mr Raab has promised to resign if the allegations are upheld.

A spokesman for Mr Sunak said the Prime Minister had received the report and was “considering the findings”. One government official later said the report would not be published on Thursday as the Prime Minister wanted to go through it thoroughly.

Mr Raab, who is also justice minister, has said he was confident he had behaved professionally throughout, while Mr Sunak initially defended his deputy when the reports surfaced, saying he did not recognise allegations that Mr Raab had bullied staff.

Mr Sunak, after becoming prime minister, promised to create a government of “integrity, professionalism and accountability” following the scandal-ridden tenure of Mr Boris Johnson and the chaotic economic policies that brought down Ms Liz Truss in less than two months.

The months-long investigation into Mr Raab’s behaviour has heard evidence from multiple government officials about complaints of bullying at three departments.

The investigation was asked to establish the facts, but not to form a conclusion about whether Mr Raab was guilty of bullying.

The ultimate arbiter will be the Prime Minister, who will decide whether Raab has broken the ministerial code, which states that ministers should treat officials with respect.

The opposition Liberal Democrats accused Mr Sunak of “dither and delay” over the report.

Another of Mr Sunak’s senior ministers, Mr Gavin Williamson, was forced to resign in November after bullying allegations, and the Prime Minister sacked Conservative Party chair Nadhim Zahawi in January after he was found to have broken the ministerial code regarding his tax affairs.

Mr Sunak is facing his own investigation by Parliament’s standards watchdog into his behaviour over whether he properly declared his wife’s shareholding in a childcare company that stands to benefit from new government policy. REUTERS