Dominic Raab news – live: Sunak to hire independent investigator to probe bullying claims

Downing Street says PM still has confidence in his deputy amid mounting bullying claims

Full exchange: Angela Rayner grills Dominic Raab over bullying complaints at PMQs

Rishi Sunak will appoint an “independent investigator” to examine complaints made by staff who worked for Dominic Raab, but is unable to say when the probe will start.

Work is underway to find a person with “requisite experience” – in the absence of a permanent ethics adviser, after Boris Johnson failed to fill the role, No 10 said.

But a spokeswoman could not say the investigation will start by Christmas, saying: “I’m not going to put a date on it”.

Earlier, Mr Raab accused Labour’s deputy leader Angela Rayner of “bluster and mudslinging” as she challenged him on the bullying allegations at Prime Minister’s Questions.

Just hours before the session the justice secretary and deputy PM confirmed that he was at the centre of two formal complaints.

One of the complaints relates to the cabinet minister’s time as foreign secretary, a role he held from 2019 to 2021, while the other relates to his first spell as justice secretary from 2021 to 2022.

Key points

• Sunak to hire independent investigator to probe bullying claims
• Raab accuses Rayner of ‘bluster and mudslinging'
• Raab hit with formal complaints ahead of PMQs
• Economic situation at home ‘number one priority’, Sunak says
• UK inflation jumps to new 40-year high of 11.1 per cent
• Lifting of cap on bankers’ bonuses expected in chancellor’s autumn budget

[16 November 2022 13:00 · Zoe Tidman]

‘Bullying’ confidentiality clause he signed is ‘standard’, Raab claims

Dominic Raab has said a confidentiality agreement he and a former colleague signed over a historic claim of bullying was “standard” practice.

The deputy prime minister was quizzed over the episode, which dates from before he became an MP, in the Commons on Wednesday.

Jon Stone has the full story:

[16 November 2022 12:49 · Zoe Tidman]

Raab refuses to apologise over mini-budget crisis

Dominic Raab did not apologise for what the SNP said was a “financial crisis” following Liz Truss’s so-called mini-budget, when he was challenged about it at PMQs.

SNP deputy Westminster leader Kirsten Oswald said: “Yesterday the prime minister was asked six different times to apologise for the disaster of the Tory mini-budget and the financial crisis it caused, and all six times he refused to say sorry.

“And now this morning people are waking up to the news that this Christmas they will be hit with the worst inflation in 41 years. So will the deputy prime minister stand up today and do what his boss wouldn’t - will he say sorry?”

Mr Raab said inflation was “clearly” an issue and the PM had made it clear it was “the number one economic challenge we face”.

[16 November 2022 12:42 · Zoe Tidman]

Sunak ‘too weak to get a grip’, Rayner says

Angela Rayner said Dominic Raab has had to ask Rishi Sunak to launch an investigation into complaints against him “because the prime minister is too weak to get a grip”.

Watch here:

[16 November 2022 12:32 · Zoe Tidman]

Raab accuses Rayner of ‘bluster and mudslinging'

The recruitment of a new independent ethics adviser is “taking place at pace”, Dominic Raab said after he was urged to “drain the swamp” by Labour.

Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner told the Commons: “No ethics, no integrity, and no mandate, and still no ethics adviser. So when will they appoint an independent ethics adviser and drain the swamp?”

The Deputy Prime Minister replied: “The recruitment of the new ethics adviser is already underway and taking place at pace.

“May I say, there is a reason that she has come to the despatch box with her usual mix of bluster and mudslinging. It is because they don’t have a plan.”

PA

[16 November 2022 12:26 · Zoe Tidman]

Raab asked whether there has ever been an NDA

Dominic Raab is asked whether he has ever entered into a NDA in relation to a complaint against him.

“He is referring to an employment dispute that was settled before I entered the House. It wasn’t an NDA. But it did involve a confidentiality clause that was standard at the time.”

[16 November 2022 12:23 · Zoe Tidman]

Rayner on tax havens

Angela Rayner told Dominic Raab “every pound hidden in tax havens is a pound lost from the pockets of working families”.

Labour’s deputy leader told Mr Raab in the Commons: “The G20 is also an opportunity to work together to tackle the economic challenges we all face.

“Yet as our international allies race to crack down on multinationals using tax havens to stash profits abroad, this Government is dragging its feet to protect their profits.

“We have a budget tomorrow where it’s briefed that tough choices will be impacting on families across Britain, does he accept that every pound hidden in tax havens is a pound lost from the pockets of working families?”

The Deputy Prime Minister replied: “We want people to come to this country to create the jobs and to generate the tax revenue, whether it’s non-dom status, which was stricter under this Government given the changes we made than under the last Labour government, whether it’s the Prime Minister’s approach to big tech companies...”

He added: “We have lowered the tax gap, the difference between the tax owed and the tax raised, to the lowest level, certainly lower than under the last Labour government and we’ll continue to do so.”

PA

[16 November 2022 12:21 · Zoe Tidman]

‘Flying tomatoes'

Angela Rayner brings up claims of “flying tomatoes” that Dominic Raab has faced in the bullying allegations.

Read more about the claims here:

[16 November 2022 12:09 · Zoe Tidman]

‘This is anti-bullying week,’ Rayner says

Angela Rayner is quizzing Dominic Raab about the formal complaints about his conduct.

“This is anti-bullying week. Will he apologise?” she says.

“I am confident I behaved professionally throughout,” he said, adding he asked for an investigation.

He said he looked forward to transparently addressing complaints made.

[16 November 2022 12:03 · Zoe Tidman]

Raab ‘confident’ he has behaved professionally

Dominic Raab has been asked whether a minister who has a bullying complaint upheld against him should remain in government.

The deputy PM says he is “confident” he has behaved professionally throughout.

He said he will comply with the investigation fully.

[16 November 2022 12:01 · Zoe Tidman]

Dominic Raab takes PMQs

Dominic Raab is standing in for Rishi Sunak in what promises to be an interesting PMQs.

The deputy PM revealed just hours ago formal complaints had been made against him.

Watch with The Independent’s livestream: