Justice Secretary Dominic Raab has confirmed he will resign from the Cabinet if an allegation of bullying is upheld against him.
The Deputy Prime Minister is currently under investigation by senior lawyer Adam Tolley KC.
Dozens of officials are thought to be involved in eight formal complaints against Mr Raab.
The MP for Esher and Walton spoke on Sky’s Sophy Ridge On Sunday programme about the probe, commenting:“I’m not going to start speculating on what the outcome might be. Again, you’re asking me to comment on the subject matter.”
Deputy Prime Minister to resign if bullying allegations are upheld
The Justice Secretary also dismissed calls for him stand aside while the investigation is being carried out but added: “Allow me to respond in the right way at the right time, of course. Look, if an allegation of bullying is upheld, I will resign.”
Dominic Raab has previously denied that he is a bully but has said that he had learned lessons from his dealings with civil servants in the past.
The Deputy PM also appeared on the BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme on February 26.
Mr Raab reflected on his previous dealing with staff and admitted that he “shouldn’t have reacted in that way”.
“Look, in terms of working style, falling short of any of the impropriety you refer to, look of course we learn lessons as we go," the Justice Secretary said.
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The Conseravtive MP added: “That is part of the relationship with civil servants. But I’m confident that I’ve behaved professionally throughout.
“I think the lion’s share of the time, the vast majority of cases and the time we spend together, civil servants and ministers work very effectively together.”
Mr Raab was then asked where there should be “more plain speaking in politics”.
To which, he replied: “Yes, absolutely.
“What we need, and I think this can be reconciled absolutely with having a zero-tolerance on bullying, you need ministers who come in and correctly but directly challenge assumptions, test ideas — that is the way we get the best out of government.”
FDA union secretary claims civil servants do not "have the confidence" to challenge senior Whitehall figures
General secretary of the FDA union, Dave Penman, responded to Dominic Raab's interview.
Penman shared that civil servants do not “have the confidence” to challenge bullying or harassment by senior figures in Whitehall.
Speaking on BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme, Mr Penman commented: “The picture he paints is that everything is fine in the civil service and the relationship between ministers and civil servants is OK.
“That’s not the picture civil servants speak of, that’s not their experience.
“One in six are saying they have experienced bullying or harassment, or have witnessed that, in the last 12 months alone across 20 Government departments.
“They don’t have the confidence of challenging those behaviours.”
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