Former top civil servant who worked under Raab dismisses ‘activists’ claim
Simon McDonald has denied Dominic Raab’s claims there were civil service “activists” in the Foreign Office and said those who worked under the former minister “worked very hard for him”.
Lord McDonald was permanent secretary under Raab when he was foreign secretary and worked closely with the former deputy prime minister.
McDonald told the BBC’s Today programme that he disagreed with his former boss and said there was no “separate civil service agenda” and he saw no evidence of a “group of activists trying to undermine a minister”.
Asked for his characterisation of Raab’s behaviour while he was at the Foreign Office, he said:
I witnessed a tough task master, I witnessed a minister who knew what he wanted to do, and frankly I witnessed somebody whose methods did not help him achieve what he wanted to do and that I raised with him more than once.
When McDonald raised these issues with Raab he said the characterisation was “disputed” by the MP for Esher and Walton.
Key events
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’.
Of course he provides no evidence to support that whatsoever in his desperate attempt to defend himself.
Mr Penman accused ministers more generally of trying to “create a culture war of a ‘woke left civil service’ without any evidence”, describing the service as having “both hands tied behind its back unable to defend itself” due to impartiality rules.
He added that Mr Sunak should “conduct a review of the entire process” of civil servants reporting their concerns about ministers.
Raab’s anger at report does not invalidate findings – Lord McDonald
Simon McDonald added that Dominic Raab should “reflect” on the way he behaved.
He told the BBC’s Today Programme:
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.
Lord McDonald denied Raab’s claims that other ministers are at risk of having similar complaints made about them.
He said:
I believe ministers who treat their civil servants in the respectful way any boss should treat their colleagues will have absolutely nothing to fear.
Former top civil servant who worked under Raab dismisses ‘activists’ claim
Simon McDonald has denied Dominic Raab’s claims there were civil service “activists” in the Foreign Office and said those who worked under the former minister “worked very hard for him”.
Lord McDonald was permanent secretary under Raab when he was foreign secretary and worked closely with the former deputy prime minister.
McDonald told the BBC’s Today programme that he disagreed with his former boss and said there was no “separate civil service agenda” and he saw no evidence of a “group of activists trying to undermine a minister”.
Asked for his characterisation of Raab’s behaviour while he was at the Foreign Office, he said:
I witnessed a tough task master, I witnessed a minister who knew what he wanted to do, and frankly I witnessed somebody whose methods did not help him achieve what he wanted to do and that I raised with him more than once.
When McDonald raised these issues with Raab he said the characterisation was “disputed” by the MP for Esher and Walton.
Pippa Crerar
Raab’s resignation probably represents the end of his frontline political career, with allies admitting he is expected to lose his marginal Surrey seat to the Liberal Democrats at the general election next year. Raab told the BBC he wanted to “let the dust settle a little bit” before making a decision about his future.
The departure of such a close political ally is a major blow to Sunak, who is facing questions over his judgment after civil servants flagged “issues” with Raab in his previous departments before the prime minister brought him back into government.
Sunak glossed over the substance of the complaints, while Downing Street only condemned the bullying of civil servants “in general terms” and refused to explicitly acknowledge that Raab had broken the ministerial code.
And here’s the PM’s response:
Dear Dominic,
Thank you for your letter notifying me of your decision to resign from your position in His Majesty’s Government as Deputy Prime Minister and Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice. It is with great sadness that I have accepted your resignation.
When I became Prime Minister in October last year, I pledged that the Government I lead would have integrity, professionalism and accountability at every level. The Ministerial Code requires ministers to uphold the highest standards.
When formal complaints about your conduct in different ministerial posts were submitted last year, I appointed at your request an independent investigator to conduct a full investigation into the specific facts surrounding these complaints. Adam Tolley KC has now submitted his report and I have carefully considered its findings, as well as consulting the Independent Adviser on Ministers’ Interests.
As you say, you had – rightly – undertaken to resign if the report made any finding of bullying whatsoever. You have kept your word. But it is clear that there have been shortcomings in the historic process that have negatively affected everyone involved. We should learn from this how to better handle such matters in future.
But your resignation should not make us forget your record of delivery in both this Government and previous administrations. These achievements should make you extremely proud.
Most recently as Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor, you have put the rights of victims at the heart of our criminal justice system through our landmark Victims and Prisoners Bill, as well as increasing sentences for violent criminals, reforming the probation system, and pushing forward the biggest prison-building programme this country has seen in over a century.
As Foreign Secretary, you were a major driving force of the 2021 Integrated Review, conceiving and delivering the Indo-Pacific tilt. I know the personal drive you also displayed to create the UK’s new independent sanctions regime and in our response to the undermining of human rights and democracy in Hong Kong.
During the Covid crisis, you stepped in when the then Prime Minister was hospitalised. You provided the country – and your Cabinet colleagues – with reassurance and leadership at a moment of profound national concern. As Chancellor at the time, I was struck by the collegiate way in which you handled this most difficult of challenges.
I will always be grateful for your steadfast personal support during last year’s Conservative Party leadership contest from the day you introduced me at the launch to the last day of the contest. The subsequent dedication, commitment and loyalty with which you have discharged your responsibilities as Deputy Prime Minister has been typical of your belief in public service.
I look forward to receiving your support from the backbenches as you continue to passionately represent your constituents of Esher and Walton. Thank you for your service to this and previous Governments and I wish you and your family every possible success for the future.
Yours Sincerely,
Rishi Sunak
If you missed it yesterday, here’s Raab’s resignation letter in full:
Dear Prime Minister,
I am writing to resign from your government, following receipt of the report arising from the inquiry conducted by Adam Tolley KC. 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.
It has been a privilege to serve you as Deputy Prime Minister, Justice Secretary and Lord Chancellor. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to work as a minister in a range of roles and departments since 2015, and pay tribute to the many outstanding civil servants with whom I have worked.
Whilst I feel duty bound to accept the outcome of the inquiry, it dismissed all but two of the claims levelled against me. I also believe that its two adverse findings are flawed and set a dangerous precedent for the conduct of good government. First, ministers must be able to exercise direct oversight with respect to senior officials over critical negotiations conducted on behalf of the British people, otherwise the democratic and constitutional principle of ministerial responsibility will be lost. This was particularly true during my time as Foreign Secretary, in the context of the Brexit negotiations over Gibraltar, when a senior diplomat breached the mandate agreed by Cabinet.
Second, ministers must be able to give direct critical feedback on briefings and submissions to senior officials, in order to set the standards and drive the reform the public expect of us. Of course, this must be done within reasonable bounds. Mr Tolley concluded that I had not once, in four and a half years, sworn or shouted at anyone, let alone thrown anything or otherwise physically intimidated anyone, nor intentionally sought to belittle anyone. I am genuinely sorry for any unintended stress or offence that any officials felt, as a result of the pace, standards and challenge that I brought to the Ministry of Justice. That is, however, what the public expect of ministers working on their behalf.
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.
Finally, I raised with you a number of improprieties that came to light during the course of this inquiry. They include the systematic leaking of skewed and fabricated claims to the media in breach of the rules of the inquiry and the Civil Service Code of Conduct, and the coercive removal by a senior official of dedicated private secretaries from my Ministry of Justice private office, in October of last year. I hope these will be independently reviewed.
I remain as supportive of you and this government, as when I first introduced you at your campaign leadership launch last July. You have proved a great Prime Minister in very challenging times, and you can count on my support from the backbenches.
Yours sincerely,
Dominic Raab
What the papers say
Let’s look at the reaction on the front pages.
We begin with the Guardian which says “Raab quits in fury”. It reports that the investigation by Adam Tolley KC cited “abuse of power”, but that Raab believes himself the victim of “activist civil servants” trying to block the Conservative government’s work.
The Daily Telegraph has “Row over Spanish forces in Gibraltar sank Raab”. It says the report found Raab “bullied a British ambassador said to have secretly proposed putting Spanish boots on the ground in Gibraltar during Brexit talks”.
The Daily Express is sympathetic, regarding Raab as having been “Forced out for wanting best for Britain”, which it says was a matter of “unwavering determination” for him according to allies.
Read more here:
Raab’s ‘activist civil servants’ claim is ‘absurd’, says Lord Kerslake
Good morning. While Dominic Raab resigned as both deputy prime minister and justice secretary yesterday following the long-awaited report into his behaviour, he did so begrudgingly.
In his resignation letter to Rishi Sunak, Raab said the conclusions of the report created a “dangerous precedent” by setting the threshold for bullying “so low” that it could have a “chilling” effect on ministers trying to make changes.
The MP said he felt “duty bound” to resign, having undertaken to do so if the report found against him. He claimed that all but two of the eight complaints against him had been “dismissed”, but Adam Tolley KC found evidence of poor behaviour in six of them.
Later, in an interview with the BBC, he accused “activist civil servants” of trying to block his work, either because they were “over unionised” or because they did not agree with his policies.
However, Lord Kerslake, the former head of the civil service, has described those claims as “absurd” – adding that the resignation letter was “pretty graceless” and “in some instances malevolent”.
He told Radio 4’s PM programme:
I think it’s completely inaccurate, and I think it’s just one more line of attack to avoid taking responsibility for his actions.
He seems to lash out at everybody but doesn’t accept personal responsibility for any of his own behaviour, and I think the issue here he’s trying to turn it into – some kind of constitutional question of good government – simply doesn’t stand up.
You can read my colleague Pippa Crerar’s report on an extraordinary day here:
And we will bring you all the latest UK political developments as they happen right here throughout the day.
