26 February 2023 , 08:58
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Dominic Raab has said if an allegation of bullying is upheld against him he will resign from Rishi Sunak's Cabinet.
The Deputy Prime Minister - a close ally of Mr Sunak - is currently facing a Whitehall sleaze probe into allegations made by dozens of officials about his behaviour.
In total there are eight formal complaints involving at least 24 civil servants against Mr Raab, who also served as Foreign Secretary under Boris Johnson.
Speaking on Sky News's Sophy Ridge programme he dismissed calls to stand aside while the probe is carried out.
Former Tory Chairman Sir Jake Berry has suggested Mr Raab should be suspended while the investigation is carried out by Adam Tolley KQ.
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Deputy PM Dominic Raab arriving at the BBC studios on Sunday (PA)Mr Raab said: "Just by lodging complaints you can knock out a cabinet minister or a senior figure, I'm not sure that's right, we believe in innocent until proven guilty."
But he added: "Look, if an allegation of bullying is upheld, I will resign."
Speaking on the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg show, Mr Raab also said the "vast majority of the time" the relationship with officials is "excellent".
"I'm not here to criticise the civil service - they are absolutely essential," he said, insisting the Government had "zero tolerance against bullying".
Asked whether he is a bully, he replied: "No."
The Mirror has previously reported Mr Raab has been nicknamed “The Incinerator” because he “burns through” staff so quickly.
The Liberal Democrat Chief Whip Wendy Chamberlain said: “Rishi Sunak should finally show some backbone and suspend Raab while this investigation is ongoing.
"That is what would happen to someone facing such serious allegations in any other workplace.
"The current position is completely unsustainable, how can crime victims expect justice when the minister responsible is busy trying to clear his own name?"
She added: "The longer this drags on, the more it calls into question the Prime Minister’s judgement and promise to act with integrity.”
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Speaking on the BBC, the General Secretary of the FDA union - representing senior senior civil servants - also said 1 in 6 had experienced bullying or harassment in the last 12 months alone across 20 Government departments.
"They don't have the confidence of challenging those behaviours," he said.