UK PM reviews top MP’s ‘bullying’ report

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LONDON (Reuters) British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Thursday reviewed a long-awaited report on allegations that he bullied officials, weighing the fate of his chief of staff.

The report, by an independent labor attorney, explores eight formal complaints alleging Attorney General Dominic Raab abused staff during his previous tenure and during his tenure as foreign secretary and Brexit secretary. 

Raab, who is also deputy prime minister, has denied his allegations that he was overly demanding, disrespectful and insulting his staff. He said he “always acted in a professional manner” but said he would resign if the bullying complaint was confirmed.

Sunak spokesman Max Blain said the prime minister received a report on Raab’s actions on Thursday morning and is reviewing the findings before reaching a verdict that could include his dismissal. Until that decision, Sunak has “complete confidence” in Raab, he said.

Raab, 49, was first elected to parliament in 2010 and has held high-ranking government officials, including minister of justice and minister of foreign affairs. He was appointed deputy prime minister under Boris Johnson, and he briefly took over the government when Johnson was hospitalized with COVID-19 in April 2020.

The report finds Sunak, who vowed order and integrity after three years of turmoil under his predecessor Johnson, who was dismissed in the summer of 2022 following multiple scandals, and an Oct. It’s the latest ethical headache for Liz Truss, who resigned to When the government’s tax cut economic plan wreaked havoc on financial markets.

But he has struggled to dismiss opposition claims that the Conservative government remains riddled with scandal and corruption. Sunak is also facing an investigation released this week by the parliamentary oversight body.

Gavin Williamson, a member of his cabinet, resigned in November over allegations of bullying. dismissed Zahawi.

A separate investigation is underway into allegations that Johnson received the loan with the help of Conservative donor Richard Sharpe, who later became chairman of the BBC.