Dominic Raab has hit out at “activists” in the civil service, warning they are trying to “target ministers” following his resignation.
The former Deputy Prime Minister stepped down following a damning report into his conduct in the working environment which suggested he acted in an intimidating and aggressive way towards officials.
Raab, however, has refuted the suggestion and says he is “confident” he did not bully in any way.
The 49-year-old told GB News that there is a “tyranny of subjective hurt feelings” within the Civil Service which played a key role in his eventual resignation.
Dominic Raab has quit the GovernmentgbnewsSpeaking to Olivia Utley, he said: “I’m confident that I didn’t behave in a bullying way. Most of these allegations were dismissed out of hand.
“Being able to pull very senior civil servants up, not junior members of staff, and saying ‘look, I don’t have the basic information to decide this,’ that was one of the things I was found to be bullying on, because I defended someone.
“Or because I said in relation to human rights reform, to get more foreign national offenders removed from this country, to strengthen free speech, I said I thought the department were being obstructive.
“If these kind of things amount to bullying, I think it puts a handbrake, a paralysing effect, on ministers delivering for the British people.”
Raab added that he has been warned over a culture of “activism” in the civil service.
He told GB News: “I was warned by senior civil servants that there are increasing activists in civil service, mobilised by the FDA union, who are trying to target ministers.
“All I know is that I think the bar has been lowered now with the Government that we’ve got.
“My phone is lit up by ministers concerned over what they could be accused of for behaviour in most walks of life would be considered important managerial scrutiny.”
Dominic Raab says his resignation will have a 'paralysing' effectGB NewsRaab was even accused of throwing tomatoes, something he denied during his interview with GB News.
He told Olivia Utley: “Not only did I not throw tomatoes, that allegation was regarded as so specious it wasn’t even put to me.
“What I can tell you is in the course of the investigation, one press officer from Government was subject to disciplinary proceedings for spreading misinformation.
“I should also say that the people who reported that individual were themselves civil servants.”
The ex-Deputy PM’s conduct in the department is said to have had an “significant adverse effect” on one colleague and he was also found to have been “intimidating” to staff by criticising “utterly useless” work while justice secretary.
Adam Tolley KC’s investigation published on Friday concluded Raab engaged in an “abuse or misuse of power” that “undermines or humiliates” while foreign secretary.
Sunak has filled the gap opened by Raab’s departure with Alex Chalk becoming Justice Secretary and Oliver Dowden promoted to Deputy PM.