Several sources told the Guardian that around 15 staff from the justice minister’s private office were ushered into a room where department heads admitted they might be concerned about his behavior and were given the option of transferring roles. Some of the civil servants were said to have been in tears during the meeting and several subsequently decided to move to other positions in the department, with one considering leaving altogether, although sources said a couple of staff had since returned. It is also understood Antonia Romeo, the permanent secretary at the Ministry of Justice, had to speak to Raab when he returned to the department to warn him to treat staff professionally and with respect amid unhappiness over his return. A source, who was not in the room at the time, claimed she had “read him the riot act”. The Guardian spoke to multiple sources at the Ministry of Justice who claimed that Raab, who first held the post between September 2021 and September 2022 when he was sacked by Liz Truss, had created a “culture of fear” in the department. They claimed that his behavior when dealing with public servants, including some in senior roles, was “derogatory rather than demanding”, that he was “very rude and aggressive” and that he was “not just unprofessional, he was a bully”. The allegations have once again put the spotlight on Rishi Sunak, who made Raab deputy prime minister and justice minister two weeks ago, with some Tory MPs already questioning the prime minister’s judgment on some of his cabinet appointments . In his first speech outside No 10 last month, Sunak promised that his government, unlike that of his two immediate predecessors, would have “integrity, professionalism and accountability at every level”. However, some Tory MPs felt his oath would prove to be a fluke if some ministers were not to fail. There was renewed focus on unprofessional behavior in Whitehall this week after the Guardian reported claims Gavin Williamson told a senior civil servant to “cut your throat” and “jump out of a window” in what they felt was an ongoing campaign of intimidation. while he was Minister of Defense. There is no indication that Raab made similarly extreme comments. Williamson was forced to resign from the cabinet for a third time after the former Whitehall aide lodged a formal complaint with the independent parliamentary complaints and complaints service and former Tory deputy leader Ann Milton claimed he had also subjected MPs to “immoral and unethical BEHAVIOR”. A former Justice Department civil servant who worked in the department during Raab’s first term there told the Guardian: “On more than one occasion I saw him blow up civil servants – sometimes very senior – in meetings. While he was demanding, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, the way he spoke to people was uncomfortable to watch. He was very rude and aggressive.” Another insider said: “His behavior was humiliating rather than demanding. You are entering bullying territory because it is systemic and persistent and creates a culture of fear in the department. But even if you could somehow argue that what he’s doing isn’t bullying, it’s certainly not professional.” Archie Bland and Nimo Omer take you to the top stories and what they mean, free every weekday morning Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain information about charities, online advertising and content sponsored by external parties. For more information, see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and Google’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. A third Justice Department official added: “They will try to say that he is driving the department too hard to get results. But he often undermined us and undermined us. Not only was he unprofessional, he was a bully. The atmosphere when he came back was terrible.” The Guardian also spoke to officials who defended Raab’s approach, but even they admitted his behavior could be interpreted by some colleagues as unprofessional or even bullying. However, it is understood that no formal complaints have been made. A source close to the minister said: “Dominic makes no apologies for having high standards. He works hard and expects a lot from his team as well as himself. He thinks very highly of DOJ officials and is always professional and clear with them.” Raab’s reappointment in October was criticized by opponents who claimed he failed to resolve lawyers’ strikes and presided over a growing court backlog. He has already said his highly controversial plans for a British Bill of Rights, which Truss shelved, will be revived. A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: “There is zero tolerance for bullying across the public service. The Deputy Prime Minister leads a professional department, promoting important reforms, where civil servants are valued and the level of ambition is high.”
