Related: Keir Starmer says Tories ‘always clobber working people’ during PMQs
An investigation into Dominic Raab’s conduct has been expanded to include another complaint, No 10 has said.
Downing Street ordered a probe into the deputy prime minister, who also serves as justice secretary, as he faced a number of bullying allegations.
The inquiry initially looked at two formal complaints – but No 10 said a third received on Wednesday had now been added to the mix.
It involved Mr Raab’s time at the Department for Exiting the European Union, a Downing Street spokesperson said. Rishi Sunak maintains confidence in his deputy, they added.
Mr Raab has been hit with allegations of bullying in recent weeks – including that he lost his temper at work, threw food across the room and that staff were left “scared” to go into his office.
He insisted he had always “behaved professionally” amid reports this week former private secretaries were expected to lodge formal complaints against his conduct.
Fresh complaints against Raab
Adam Forrest has more on fresh complaints againt Dominic Raab that emerged this week:
Raab says he always ‘behaved professionally’
Dominic Raab defended himself against allegations of bullying and using his personal email for government business earlier this week.
The deputy PM said he had always adhered to the ministerial code and “behaved professionally” as fresh bullying claims emerged.
Read more:
Raab facing fresh bullying complaints, reports said this week
Reports this week suggested Dominic Raab was facing bullying complaints from around one dozen more former staffers.
Questions have also been raised over Mr Raab’s alleged use of personal email accounts for government business at two different departments, BBC Newsnight reported.
Liam James reported at the time:
No 10 spokesperson on Raab inquiry
Here is what the No 10 spokesperson said about the inquiry into Dominic Raab:
“I can confirm that the prime minister has now asked the investigator to add a further formal complaint relating to conduct at the Department for Exiting the European Union and to establish the facts in line with the existing terms of reference.”
The third formal complaint was received by the Cabinet Office on 23 November, the spokesperson added.
Raab probe now dealing with third complaint, No 10 confirms
A third complaint against Dominic Raab is being investigated by the probe ordered by No 10, deepening the crisis surrounding the deputy prime minister.
The inquiry into Rishi Sunak’s key ally was already looking into his behaviour while justice secretary and Cabinet Office minister – but his time as Brexit secretary is now also under scrutiny.
Rob Merrick, the deputy political editor, reports:
What is a Swiss-style deal with the EU?
“If you thought Brexit was done, think again. The coming recession has put Britain’s relationship with the EU back on the agenda,” our policy correspondent Jon Stone writes.
“There’s strong evidence the current hard Brexit relationship, negotiated by Boris Johnson, is doing Britain serious economic damage and getting in the way of trade.
As such, it was not a huge surprise to read reports this weekend that some inside government want the UK to get on the path to a Swiss-style Brexit deal.”
He takes a look at what this deal entails:
Pornographic ‘deepfakes’ without consent to be criminalised
Sharing “downblouse” images and pornographic “deepfakes” without consent will be made crimes, the government has announced.
Here is Dominic Raab on the issue:
And you can read the full story here:
Starmer rules out Swiss-style deal with EU
Sir Keir Starmer also told the podcast he would not pursue a Swiss-style relationship with the EU.
It follows reports – denied by No 10 – that this was being weighed up behind closed doors in Whitehall.
“I went to Switzerland and studied that model and I wouldn’t do a Swiss model,” the Labour leader said.
But he said the current deal “isn’t good enough”.
Starmer says working people ‘clobbered time again’
Sir Keir Starmer has called the current tax burdes “anti-Conservative stuff”.
“I want taxes to come down for working people,” he told The Telegraph’s Choppers Politics podcast.
“They’ve been really clobbered time and time again, whether that’s on income tax, whether it’s national insurance or council tax or the stealth tax thresholds, everywhere you look,” he said.
But the Labour leader added it was “very important” that “we don’t make promises we can’t keep”.
Labour’s leader says he wants lower tax for working people
” height=”726″ width=”982″ layout=”responsive” class=”i-amphtml-layout-responsive i-amphtml-layout-size-defined” i-amphtml-layout=”responsive”> Labour’s leader says he wants lower tax for working people
Labour plan for tackling violence against women
Sir Keir Starmer has tweeted his plan to tackling violence against women and girls:
