Dominic Raab, the former Foreign Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister, resigned from his post on Friday after a damning report found that he had bullied and intimidated staff at the Foreign Office. Raab's departure is a major setback for Rishi Sunak, who had appointed him as his second-in-command and relied on him to handle the Brexit negotiations and the Covid-19 crisis.
Raab was one of the most prominent and influential figures in Sunak's cabinet, having served as the leader of the pro-Brexit campaign in 2016 and as the Brexit Secretary under Theresa May. He was also seen as a potential rival for Sunak's leadership, as he had a strong base of support among the Conservative Party's right wing and grassroots members.
Raab's resignation came after an independent inquiry by Sir Alex Allan, a former civil service chief, concluded that he had created a "climate of fear" at the Foreign Office and had breached the ministerial code of conduct by "unacceptable behaviour towards staff". The report said that Raab had shouted at and humiliated officials, ignored their advice, and undermined their authority. It also said that he had failed to protect staff from harassment and discrimination by his special advisers.
Sunak accepted Raab's resignation with "deep regret" and praised him for his "outstanding service" to the country. He said that Raab had played a vital role in securing the UK's departure from the EU, leading the global response to the pandemic, and advancing the UK's interests and values around the world. He also said that he would appoint a new Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary in due course.
However, Sunak's critics said that Raab's resignation exposed his weakness and incompetence as a leader. They accused him of turning a blind eye to Raab's misconduct for too long and of failing to uphold the standards of integrity and accountability in his government. They also said that Raab's departure would leave a huge gap in Sunak's team and would damage the UK's reputation and influence on the international stage.
Sunak faces a difficult task of finding a suitable replacement for Raab, who can command respect and trust both within his cabinet and among his foreign counterparts. He also faces a challenge of restoring morale and confidence among the civil servants who work under him and of ensuring that his government delivers on its promises to the British people. Sunak will have to prove that he can lead his government through the multiple crises that it faces, such as the economic recovery from Covid-19, the implementation of Brexit, and the rising tensions with China and Russia.
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