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CIVIL servants who were allegedly bullied by Dominic Raab have “suffered mental health crises,” the leader of a union which represents senior Whitehall officials said today.
FDA general secretary Dave Penman also denied claims by allies of the Deputy Prime Minister that the complaints against him are a politically motivated attempt to force him out.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has tasked lawyer Adam Tolley KC with investigating bullying claims against Mr Raab, with dozens of civil servants believed to be involved in eight formal complaints.
Mr Penman told Sky News: “I’ve spoken to people who are civil servants working and have worked for Dominic Raab, who have suffered mental health crises, have lost their careers essentially because they’ve had to move and change jobs.”
He told the PM to “come clean” amid growing pressure on Mr Sunak to explain what he knew about the allegations before appointing Mr Raab as his deputy and justice secretary.
Downing Street has only ruled out Mr Sunak being aware of “formal complaints” as reports suggested he had been warned about his ally’s alleged behaviour.
Mr Sunak’s official spokesman declined to comment on Mr Penman’s claims.
Mr Penman also said he was “astonished” by senior Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg’s warning to people against being “too snowflakey” about bullying allegations.
“This sort of behaviour destroys lives,” the union leader said.
“I mean it’s not just about careers, people’s lives and their mental health are at risk when they are subject to systematic bullying, and to belittle it in that way is absolutely outrageous from a former leader of the House and Cabinet minister.”
He repeated his call for Mr Raab to be suspended pending the probe.