British Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Minister Dominic Raab has resigned amid protests over intimidation at the ministry. The conservative politician sees no other option given the reports about his working methods, but he disagrees with his conclusions.

Raab is thus adding action to his previous statement, according to British correspondent Lia van Bekhoven. “He said before that if the investigative report concluded that there was intimidation, he would resign,” said Van Bekhoven. “And the report did conclude that he acted twice.”

According to Van Bekhoven, Raab insisted that was a meager conclusion and that the bar was “too low”. “He wondered how people define bullying,” he continued. “What officials call intimidation, according to Raab, is nothing more than complaining.”

Demand

According to Van Bekhoven, Raab was a demanding and hardworking minister who expected the same from his employees. “Raab said it had nothing to do with bullying.”

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Exactly what was in the report remains unclear, but according to Van Bekhoven, the whistleblower has reported that eight complaints about Raab’s behavior have been filed. “Nearly thirty officials will complain about him,” he continued. “He would be rude and aggressive to officials, humiliate them, swear at them, and get angry at the slightest thing. He will also throw three tomatoes out of his lunch box.’

Afraid

Overall, the report concludes that Raab is responsible for the climate of fear. And that doesn’t just apply to his period as the current minister. Also in the past, when Raab held ministerial posts under Johnson, officials were said to ask for a transfer because they didn’t want to work with him.

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This is another episode of the rumbling of the British political elite. Where Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has insisted in his campaign to restore peace after Liz Truss and Boris Johnson, this seems not to be the case so far. “I think four ministers have resigned from a hard Brexit angle,” said Van Bekhoven, who also noted that Raab’s appointment was always a risk. “Because he already has a reputation, so bringing him up again despite complaints is risky.”