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LONDON — British Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab resigned Friday over bullying allegations, in one other political embarrassment for Rishi Sunak’s authorities.
Raab, 49, who rose to prominence when Boris Johnson was prime minister, resigned after an unbiased investigation and report concluded that he had bullied his workers and civil servants whereas serving in excessive workplace.
“I really feel responsibility certain to just accept the end result of the inquiry,” Raab stated in his resignation assertion, including that he was “genuinely sorry.” He had beforehand promised to resign if the report upheld bullying claims about him.
Nevertheless, he additionally criticized the inquiry for “setting the edge for bullying so low.” He warned it may set a “harmful precedent” and encourage “spurious complaints.”
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The transfer is one other blow to Sunak’s authorities, which has been dogged by allegations of “sleaze” and impropriety after he promised to revive “integrity” when he took over as prime minister from Liz Truss in October.
Sunak was fined by police final yr for breaking coronavirus lockdown guidelines, and he has been reprimanded for authorized infractions together with failing to put on a seat belt whereas touring in a automotive and never maintaining his canine on a leash in a park. He’s at present beneath investigation by a parliamentary watchdog over whether or not he correctly declared his spouse’s pursuits in a child-care firm that would profit from authorities insurance policies.
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Raab served as deputy prime minister and justice minster in Sunak’s cupboard. He beforehand labored as a Brexit minister and was seen as an in depth political ally of Sunak, backing his management marketing campaign final yr.
Raab’s departure follows the current scandal-linked elimination of two different cupboard colleagues. Conservative Get together chair Nadhim Zahawi was fired in January after an ethics probe discovered him in breach of a ministerial code concerning his tax affairs, and former minister Gavin Williamson resigned in November, additionally over bullying allegations.
Opposition Labour Get together chief Keir Starmer informed reporters Friday that Raab’s resignation confirmed the “continuous weak spot” of a Sunak authorities. He added that Britons are extra involved a few value of residing disaster and the Nationwide Well being Service than eager to “hear about his whining about having to resign.”
Sunak has but to touch upon the matter, and his Downing Road workplace didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark from The Washington Submit.