Raab case prompts rethink call

The Conservative Party peer leading a review into how the United Kingdom civil service functions is advocating for a "more robust culture" in government affairs in the wake of the resignation of British Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary Dominic Raab over bullying claims on Friday.

Francis Maude, a lord and former Cabinet Office minister, wrote in The Observer newspaper that, without changes, further cases like Raab's could arise where "frustrations boil over".

Lawyer Adam Tolley KC conducted a five-month inquiry regarding eight complaints about Raab's conduct during his time as justice secretary, foreign secretary, and Brexit secretary.

It found Raab engaged in an "abuse or misuse of power" that "undermines or humiliates". Tolley's findings were consistent with what he said would amount to an offense under the ministerial code, and that Raab had acted in an intimidating and "persistently aggressive" manner with officials, which could have amounted to bullying.

Raab criticized the inquiry, saying its findings had set "a very dangerous precedent "and claimed that civil service "activists" had been working against him.

Maude suggested that ministers should be granted more say in regards to appointments, despite their limited authority, as they rely on and are held accountable for officials' performance.

He said this would ensure impartiality is maintained. He added that the system must be less "mealy-mouthed about politicization".

"We need a much more robust culture, with less groupthink, more rugged disagreement, and the confidence to both offer challenge and to accept it," he said.

Maude cited the successes of other governments, such as those in France, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, in which civil service systems provide a balance between impartiality, continuity, and responsiveness to the needs of ministers.

"Without a much closer alignment between accountability and authority, we will see tensions build and relationships fracture," Maude said.

"Our system can be made to work but it needs change — difficult and sustained change. And it needs to start soon."

In an interview with The Sun on Sunday newspaper, Raab said "the timing of these complaints — stored up over four-and-a-half years, all submitted on the same day — and one submitted four weeks later" made it look like it was a "coordinated and concerted and therefore politicized attack rather than a genuine raising of concerns through proper process in the proper way".

Simon McDonald, who served as permanent secretary at the Foreign Office for five years and testified during the bullying inquiry, stated on the BBC Today radio program that there was no civil service "agenda" and that Dominic Raab's "behavior" had been the problem.

The Sunday Times newspaper reported that Downing Street advisers had attempted to prevent Raab's dismissal. It said they believed that, if it was found Raab had bullied staff, other Cabinet ministers would face the same accusations.

The newspaper said at least three members of the Cabinet are now on "alert", anticipating potential bullying complaints.