Breaking!UK Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab Resigns

British Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary Dominic Raab resigned on Friday, following an independent investigation into formal complaints about his behavior.

In a letter to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak published on Twitter, Raab said the inquiry had set a dangerous precedent, but that he would remain supportive of the government.

“I called for the inquiry and undertook to resign if it made any finding of bullying whatsoever. I believe it is important to keep my word,” Raab said.

He complained about employees leaking details of his behavior to the media and added: “In setting the threshold for bullying so low, this inquiry has set a dangerous precedent. It will encourage spurious complaints against Ministers, and have a chilling effect on those driving change on behalf of your government – and ultimately the British people.”

He said he felt “duty bound to accept the outcome of the inquiry” but said it “dismissed all but two of the claims leveled against me”.

Raab referred to the two incidents where there was a finding of bullying against him – one at the foreign office in dealing with a senior diplomat’s handling of the Brexit negotiation over Gibraltar, and one where he gave critical feedback during an earlier stint at the Ministry of Justice from 2021 to 2022.

Raab’s resignation makes him the third senior minister who has departed over their personal conduct since Sunak entered Downing Street in October promising a government of integrity.

Another of Sunak’s senior ministers, Gavin Williamson, was forced to resign in November after bullying allegations, and the prime minister sacked Conservative Party chair Nadhim Zahawi in January after he was found to have broken the ministerial code over his openness about his tax affairs.

Meanwhile, Sunak is facing his own investigation by parliament’s standards watchdog into his behavior over whether he properly declared his wife’s shareholding in a childcare company that stands to benefit from the new government policy.

Raab’s announcement on Friday came the day after Sunak received findings into eight formal complaints that he had been abusive towards staff during a previous stint in that office and while serving as foreign secretary and Brexit secretary.

The investigation heard evidence from multiple government officials about complaints of bullying at three different departments.

Raab, 49, denied claims he belittled and demeaned his staff and said he “behaved professionally at all times,” but had said he would resign if the bullying complaints were upheld.

Sunak received the report on Thursday morning and was carefully considering the findings but did not immediately make a decision, spokesperson Max Blain said.

Raab began his career as a lawyer and moved into politics in 2000 when he joined the Foreign Office.

He took on a leading role during the coronavirus pandemic, taking the helm of the government while then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson was hospitalized with the virus.