His decision follows the publication of an independent report establishing that he had indeed morally harassed civil servants. Dominic Raab, British Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice, announced his resignation on Friday April 21.
“I had asked for this investigation and had undertaken to resign if it established facts of harassment, whatever they may be. I believe it is important to keep my word”he wrote, in his resignation letter directly addressed to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, which he broadcast on Twitter.
My resignation statement.👇 https://t.co/DLjBfChlFq
This close friend of Rishi Sunak writes that he will continue to support the government. But he castigates the investigation conducted against him, which, according to him, “by setting the threshold for harassment so low, sets a dangerous precedent for the good conduct of government.” “She will encourage spurious accusations against ministers and act as a deterrent to people undertaking change on behalf of your government and ultimately the British people”he adds.
Another setback for Mr. Sunak’s government
The report submitted Thursday to the Prime Minister and not yet made public, “dismissed all but two complaints”specifies the minister in his letter, continuing to judge them “false”.
Dominic Raab has always denied these accusations which have poisoned the government for months and have raised numerous criticisms from the opposition. Again on Thursday, Downing Street displayed its “total confidence” in his Deputy Prime Minister, while affirming “carefully study the conclusions of the report”.
He is the third minister to leave Mr Sunak’s government since he came to power in October 2022 after various accusations, adding a new stain on the prime minister’s promise to show “integrity, professionalism and responsibility” after the succession of scandals under Boris Johnson.
In November, Gavin Williamson, a cabinet minister without portfolio, resigned following accusations of harassment.
And, in January, Rishi Sunak had to dismiss the president of the Conservative Party, Nadhim Zahawi, who sat in this capacity on the council of ministers, for tax disputes.
