Sunak delays publication of bullying report into his deputy Raab

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will delay until at least today the publication of a report into claims that his deputy bullied staff, two government officials said, despite having had hours to review the findings and reach a conclusion.
Sunak spent much of the day yesterday considering the findings of the independent investigation into claims against Dominic Raab, his most senior minister and ally.
The report could result in the departure of a third senior minister over their personal conduct since Sunak entered Downing Street in October and would be a major embarrassment as he took office promising a government of integrity.
The review was requested by Raab in November following formal complaints about his behaviour by government officials, and Sunak appointed lawyer Adam Tolley to lead an independent investigation.
Raab has promised to resign if the allegations are upheld.
A spokesman for Sunak said the prime minister had received the report and was “considering the findings”.
One government official later said the report would not be published yesterday as the prime wanted to go through the report thoroughly.
Raab, who is also justice minister, has said he was confident that he had behaved professionally throughout, while Sunak initially defended his deputy when the reports surfaced, saying he did not recognise allegations that Raab had bullied staff.
Sunak, after becoming prime minister, promised to create a government of “integrity, professionalism, and accountability” following the scandal-ridden tenure of Boris Johnson and the chaotic economic policies that brought down Liz Truss in less than two months.
The months-long investigation into Raab’s behaviour has heard evidence from multiple government officials about complaints of bullying at three different departments.
The investigation was asked to establish the facts, but not to form a conclusion about whether Raab was guilty of bullying.
The ultimate arbiter will be the prime minister, who will decide whether Raab has broken the ministerial code, which states ministers should treat officials with respect.
The opposition Liberal Democrats accused Sunak of “dither and delay” over the report.
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 regarding his tax affairs.
Nodding to Zahawi’s abrupt dismissal, the prime minister warned that “I won’t hesitate to take swift and decisive action” if given conclusive findings of wrongdoing by Raab.
Sunak is facing his own investigation by parliament’s standards watchdog into his behaviour over whether he properly declared his wife’s shareholding in a childcare company which stands to benefit from new government policy.
Opposition parties will raise fresh questions about Sunak’s political judgment in retaining Raab, and re-appointing the controversial interior minister Suella Braverman, in October.
Some 72% of voters believe Raab should resign if he is found to have engaged in bullying, and 44% think Sunak knew about the allegations when he appointed him, according to a new poll by Savanta.
“If the report’s findings are serious and Sunak fails to act, it could draw into contention the prime minister’s assertion that his government and leadership is markedly different to those of his predecessors when it comes to scandal and sleaze,” Savanta’s political research director Chris Hopkins commented.
If Raab does go, it would necessitate an earlier-than-expected cabinet reshuffle by Sunak at a sensitive juncture, ahead of the May elections.