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The
allegations against his ally could result in the third departure
of a senior government minister over their personal conduct
since Sunak entered Downing Street in October, and would hinder
his efforts to revive his Conservative Party's polling fortunes
ahead of a national election expected next year.
The review was requested by Raab himself in November following
formal complaints about his behaviour by government officials,
and lawyer Adam Tolley was appointed by Sunak to lead an
independent investigation.
Raab has promised to resign if the allegations were upheld.
"The prime minister has received the report from Adam Tolley the
independent investigator. He received the findings this morning.
He is considering those findings," Sunak's spokesperson said.
The spokesperson said that Sunak wished to publish his response
as soon as possible, but did not say if that would be on
Thursday.
Raab, who is also justice minister, has said he was confident he
had behaved professionally throughout, while Sunak initially
defended his deputy when the reports surfaced, saying he did not
recognise allegations that Raab had bullied staff.
Sunak promised after he became prime minister last year to
create a government of "integrity, professionalism, and
accountability" following the scandal-ridden tenure of Boris
Johnson and the chaotic economic policies that brought down Liz
Truss after less than two months.
Another senior minister, Gavin Williamson, was forced to resign
after bullying allegations in November, and Sunak sacked
Conservative Party chair Nadhim Zahawi in January after he was
found to have broken the ministerial code over his openness
about his tax affairs.
Sunak is facing his own investigation by parliament's standards
watchdog into his behaviour over whether he properly declared
his wife's shareholding in a childcare company which stands to
benefit from new government policy.
(Reporting by Andrew MacAskill; Writing by Alistair Smout;
Editing by Michael Holden and Alison Williams)
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