Simon McDonald, ex-permanent secretary at the Foreign Office, says Raab’s anger at report does not invalidate its findings
PA reports that the general secretary of the FDA has said Dominic Raab is setting a “dangerous” precedent by accusing civil servants involved in his bullying investigation of acting on political grounds, and called on prime minister Rishi Sunak to “intervene”.
Speaking about the former deputy prime minister, Dave Penman told Times Radio:
Though he was happy for a KC – who was Adam Tolley – to investigate, he just doesn’t like the result, and now he’s desperately trying to rescue his reputation, including (through) his spurious allegations about civil servants.
This is where we start to get into quite dangerous territory and really the Prime Minister should be starting to intervene, because what Raab’s now doing is he’s saying: ‘this wasn’t just about me, this was a politically motivated group of civil servants trying to block Government policy’.
The fact is specific complaints were upheld. Mr Raab is now very angry that he has had to resign.
He does not like the results but that does not invalidate either the process or the result.
I believe ministers who treat their civil servants in the respectful way any boss should treat their colleagues will have absolutely nothing to fear.
