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Rishi Sunak will appoint an “independent investigator” to look into allegations made by staff who worked for Dominic Raab, but is unable to say when the inquiry will begin. Work is underway to find a person with “the necessary experience” – in the absence of a permanent ethics adviser after Boris Johnson failed to fill the role, No 10 said. However, a spokeswoman could not say whether the inquiry would start until Christmas, saying: “I’m not going to put a date.” Earlier, Mr Raab accused Labor deputy leader Angela Rayner of “hybridism and mudslinging” as she challenged him over allegations of bullying at Prime Minister’s Questions. Hours before the meeting, the justice minister and deputy prime minister confirmed he was the focus of two formal complaints. One of the complaints relates to his tenure as foreign secretary, a role he held from 2019 to 2021, while the other relates to his first term as justice minister from 2021 to 2022.

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Backbench concerns over Sunak plan to raise council tax

Rishi Sunak is facing a possible backlash from some Tory MPs over plans to allow councils to increase needs by 5 per cent without needing a vote. Under current rules, local authorities can only increase the levy by 2 per cent – or an extra 1 per cent if the increase is used to fund social care. Bob Blackman, the Conservative MP for Harrow Ast, told The Times: “In my view, council tax should be set at local level. However, with the referendum lock relaxed or removed, the political risk is that Conservative-run councils will be blamed for raising council tax. “It could make local elections even more difficult next year.” Jonathan Gullis, MP for Stoke-on-Trent North, told the newspaper: “It’s a very blunt mechanism. Most importantly and worst of all, those most vulnerable in bands A to D will be hit even harder in the pocket. “Hitting the pockets of people on low incomes even harder at a time of cost of living crisis will undermine trust, particularly in public services where people will question whether they are getting value for money.” Matt Mathers November 16, 2022 2:10 p.m 1668606897

Jeremy Hunt urged to intervene in ‘deadly’ inflation and recession

Britain’s economy faces a “deadly combination of recession and inflation” without intervention in tomorrow’s Budget, a leading business group has warned. The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) called on Jeremy Hunt to take targeted action to ease inflation and boost growth in its autumn statement on Thursday. Political correspondent Jon Stone reports: Matt Mathers November 16, 2022 1:54 p.m 1668605319

Breaking: Rishi Sunak to appoint ‘independent investigator’ to look into allegations against Dominic Raab

Rishi Sunak will appoint an “independent investigator” to look into allegations made by staff who worked for Dominic Raab, but is unable to say when the inquiry will begin. Work is underway to find a person with “the necessary experience” – in the absence of a permanent ethics adviser after Boris Johnson failed to fill the role, No 10 said. However, a spokeswoman could not say whether the inquiry would start until Christmas, saying: “I’m not going to put a date.” Downing Street also said the prime minister still had full confidence in Mr Raab. Deputy political editor Rob Merrick has more details: Matt Mathers November 16, 2022 1:28 p.m 1668604827

Raab appears to mouth off to Starmer during the previous PMQs session

Under Fire Secretary Dominic Raab appeared to echo Keir Starmer at an earlier session of PMQs. Video footage of last week’s exchanges between the Labor leader and Rishi Sunak shows the justice minister apparently using the expletive as he sits behind the prime minister. Dominic Raab appears to mouth off at Keir Starmer during PMQs It comes as the deputy prime minister faces mounting allegations of bullying, with two staff members making formal complaints against him earlier today. Raab was challenged by Labor deputy leader Angela Rayner at today’s meeting. When she reported the allegations, Mr Raab accused her of being a “mud”. Matt Mathers November 16, 2022 1:20 p.m 1668603654

The “intimidation” confidentiality clause he signed is “standard”, Raab claims

Dominic Raab said a confidentiality agreement he and a former colleague signed over a historical bullying allegation was “standard” practice. The deputy prime minister was asked about the incident, which dates back to before he became an MP, in the Commons on Wednesday. Jon Stone has the full story: Zoe Tidman16 November 2022 13:00 1668602972

Raab refuses to apologize for the mini-budget crisis

Dominic Raab made no apology for what the SNP said was a “financial crisis” following Liz Truss’ so-called mini-budget when challenged about it at PMQs. Westminster SNP deputy leader Kirsten Oswald said: “Yesterday the Prime Minister was asked six different times to apologize for the Tory mini-budget debacle and the financial crisis it caused, and all six times he refused to apologise. “And now this morning people are waking up to the news that this Christmas will be hit with the worst inflation in 41 years. So will the deputy prime minister stand up today and do what his boss wouldn’t do – say sorry?” Mr Raab said inflation was “clearly” an issue and the Prime Minister had made clear it was “the number one economic challenge we face”. Zoe Tidman16 November 2022 12:49 1668602574

Sunak “too weak to catch,” Rayner says

Angela Rayner said Dominic Raab should ask Rishi Sunak to launch an investigation into allegations against him “because the Prime Minister is too weak to catch him”. ‘Prime Minister too weak to take control’: Rayner attacks Sunak amid Raab bullying probe Zoe Tidman16 November 2022 12:42 1668601920

Raab accuses Reiner of ‘bullying and mudslinging’

The recruitment of a new independent ethics adviser is “taking place at pace”, Dominic Raab said after urging Labor to “drain the swamp”. Labour’s deputy leader Angela Rayner told the Commons: “No ethics, no integrity and no mandate, and still no ethics adviser. So when are they going to appoint an independent ethics consultant and drain the swamp?” The deputy prime minister replied: “The recruitment of the new ethics adviser is already underway and is taking place at a pace. “I can tell, there’s a reason she came in the shipping box with her usual mix of bluster and mudslinging. It’s because they don’t have a plan.” Zoe Tidman16 November 2022 12:32 1668601563

Raab asked if there was ever an NDA

Dominic Raab was asked if he has ever entered into an NDA regarding a complaint against him. “It refers to a labor dispute that was settled before I entered Parliament. It was not an NDA. But it included a confidentiality clause that was standard at the time.” Zoe Tidman16 November 2022 12:26 1668601380

Rayner on tax havens

Angela Rayner told Dominic Raab “every pound hidden in tax havens is a pound lost from the pockets of working families”. The deputy Labor leader told Mr Raab in the Commons: “The G20 is also an opportunity to work together to tackle the economic challenges we all face. “Yet, as our international allies struggle to crack down on multinationals using tax havens to stash profits overseas, this government is dragging its feet to protect their profits. “We have a Budget tomorrow where he is told that tough choices will affect families across Britain, does he accept that every pound hidden in tax havens is a pound lost from the pockets of working families?” The Deputy Prime Minister replied: “We want people to come to this country to create jobs and generate tax revenue, whether it’s non-resident status, which has been tougher under this government given the changes we’ve made since than in the previous Labor government. , whether it’s the Prime Minister’s approach to the big tech companies…” He added: “We have reduced the tax gap, the difference between tax owed and tax raised, to the lowest level, certainly lower than under the previous Labor government and we will continue to do so.” Zoe Tidman16 November 2022 12:23