Five further formal complaints have been filed against Dominic Raab over his behaviour at work, Downing Street has confirmed.
A total of eight complaints have now been made against the deputy prime minister amid allegations he bullied colleagues and left officials too scared to enter his office.
The latest five related to alleged behaviour at the Ministry of Justice, which Mr Raab has run since September 2021.
Speaking on Wednesday afternoon the prime minister’s official spokesperson told reporters: “I can confirm that the Prime Minister has now asked the investigator to include five further formal complaints relating to conduct at the Ministry of Justice as part of the ongoing investigation and in line with the existing terms of reference.”
In November Downing Street confirmed it was opening an inquiry into Mr Raab’s alleged behaviour, following media reports about his conduct.
It initially covered two incidents, but was widened to three later in the same week week it launched.
No 10 said the five new incidents were alleged to have taken place during Raab’s first spell as justice secretary from September 2021 to September 2022. He was briefly replaced in the role by Liz Truss but was re-appointed by Mr Sunak.
The lawyer heading the inquiry into the deputy prime minister’s behaviour will report to Mr Sunak, who will make the final judgement about whether his political ally breached the ministerial code, which he oversees.
Mr Raab has insisted he has “behaved professionally at all times”.
A senior Labour spokesperson said it would be “appropriate” for Mr Raab to be suspended as a minister while the investigation takes place, but said Mr Sunak was “too weak” to take action.
He suggested that the PM’s unwillingness to act was linked to Mr Raab’s support for his campaign to replace Liz Truss in Downing Street without a Tory membership vote earlier this year.
“It’s pretty shocking that no action has been taken against the justice secretary, given the allegations. there have been,” said the Labour spokesperson.
“Unfortunately, this is yet again the consequence of having a weak prime minister who has shown repeatedly on these issues a lack of willingness to act.
“We know the deals that were done in the course of avoiding the leadership election and the political allegiances that the prime minister had to build up.
“Unfortunately, that weakness has consequences in terms of his failure to act in what would seem to be an appropriate way in this case.”
The Labour spokesperson said he was unable to judge whether Mr Raab should be sacked as justice secretary, as he did not have access to details about the complaints against him. But asked if he should be suspended while the investigation proceeds, he replied: “Some action like that would be appropriate.”
