in he got rid of nadhim zahawi but not dominic raab.— he got rid of nadhim zahawi but not dominic raabe in six civil servants experiencing some sort of behaviour that makes them uncomfortable. they also make the point that an investigation like this can only be triggered by the prime minister granting it himself. is there case forjust prime minister granting it himself. is there case for just an prime minister granting it himself. is there case forjust an overhaul of how something like this is actually looked at in the first place? i actually looked at in the first lace? ~ , ., place? i think there is. i would 'ust place? ithink there is. iwould 'ust sa place? i think there is. i would just say that — place? i think there is. i would just say that i _ place? ithink there is. iwould just say that i actually - place? ithink there is. iwould| just say that i actually disagree place? i think there is. i would - just say that i actually disagree on implications and questions for rishi sunak. i think this is the third minister that has resigned from rishi sunak�*s cabinet in under a year whe

he has done so with sacking nadhim zahawi and gavin richardson.ominic— gavin richardson resigned. he forced them to. dominic raab _ gavin richardson resigned. he forced them to. dominic raab will— gavin richardson resigned. he forced them to. dominic raab will now - gavin richardson resigned. he forcedj them to. dominic raab will now know them to. dominic raab will now know the names of the civil servants who made claims against him. if he is able to continue in his role, what does that mean for those civil servants?— does that mean for those civil servants? , ., , , ., servants? civil servants were brave enou:h servants? civil servants were brave enou . h to servants? civil servants were brave enough to come — servants? civil servants were brave enough to come forward _ servants? civil servants were brave enough to come forward and - servants? civil servants were brave enough to come forward and raise l enough to come forward and raise complaints knowing they would be named. if they end up having to work in the same department they will have to q

nadhim zahawi was dismissed for not being transparent over his tax affairs.tioning the prime minister's judgment in reappointing dominic raab to government. what i think this shows is a continual weakness of the prime minister. there is a double weakness here. you should never have appointed him in the first place along with other members of the cabinet who should not have been appointed, and then he didn't sack him. even today, it is dominic raab who resigned rather than the prime minister who axed. rishi sunak said he would restore integrity into the heart of government but his personal and political alliances have come under strain. rachel cunliffe is senior associate editor at the new statesman and joins us from westminster. thank you for being on the programme. i was reading your twitter feed earlier programme. i was reading your twitterfeed earlier and it was interesting how you were underlining just how undermining behaviour like this can actually be. yes just how undermining behaviour like this can actually be.— this can actually be. yes and i think i

of the ministerial ethics, saying mr nadhim zahawi had broken within the dust broke in the ministry it, so he's had it for at least six hours now and he's not made his mind up. it suggests this is proving quite complicated — remember that this inquiry has been going on for about five months, there have been a lot of witnesses, there have been a lot of witnesses, there have been different accounts of mr rob's behaviour, some who think that he was a bully whose behaviour went too far, he was very problematic, and others who say he was a bit curt and hard to work for, he could be a tough boss, but we don't think that's straight into bullying. . so my guess is rishi sunak at the moment is looking at that report and trying to figure out if it comes down on one side. remember the prime minister set a pretty high barfor remember the prime minister set a pretty high bar for standards remember the prime minister set a pretty high barfor standards in his government — he said that accountability integrity and transparency would be the very top of his government, they would be by words for his

the prime minister got a report which said that nadhim zahawi had broken the ministerial code and he it is worth highlighting a couple of things. firstly, this report has been going on for a long time. the senior lawyer who was looking into bullying allegations against mr robb, adam tolly, started his probe in november. he has taken evidence from a lot of people, many of them complain saying there was a problem with dominic raab's behaviour, but some of them were people who didn't think that, who thought dominic raab wasn't a bully, so we don't know what is in that report, but it suggests to me that is proving quite complicated, that it is not a slam dunk, it is not black and white, there are shades of grey in this. the other thing to be reminded of it is dominic raab is extremely close to the prime minister. he was by his side throughout the leadership campaign. last summer, when rishi sunak was trying to become prime minister, dominic raab is one of his loyal loo tenants. i remember him being at events when it was pretty clear that rishi sunak was going to lose that leadership camp

nadhim zahawi, tory chairman, he was sacked because he didn't declare that he has settled a tax billn't declare that the prime minister. he was sacked for that. now dominic raab, potentially, could become the third person that rishi sunak has had to let go from his top team. we don't know, we will wait to see what the prime minister's verdict is. as i say, as we speak right now, he is looking over that report.— i say, as we speak right now, he is looking over that report. thank you very much- — looking over that report. thank you very much- just _ looking over that report. thank you very much. just to _ looking over that report. thank you very much. just to talk— looking over that report. thank you very much. just to talk about, - looking over that report. thank you very much. just to talk about, it. very much. just to talk about, it shouldn't be underestimated, saying this is an important moment, a significant choice that the prime minister, rishi sunak, will have to make but his deputy prime minister, having already lost two ministers, gavin williamson and nadhim zahawi, as nick wa

nadhim zahawi, the tory chairman, he had to just like he was sacked, i beg your pardon, because he didn'the was chancellor, he bade that to hmrc, extremely controversial because it didn't tell the prime minister and he seems to have broken the ministerial code as a result. so integrity is something that rishi sunak is going to have to test for himself and because of that whatever decision he makes will bejudged against those words that he delivered outside downing street. i think that makes it hard to see how, if there is damning evidence against dominic raab, it makes it hard to see how he could just dismiss that and allow mr raab to stay in a job. but, the other thing he has to weigh up but, the other thing he has to weigh up is how close the relationship is, the fact that mr raab is deputy minister mike, the fact that mr raab is deputy ministermike, he the fact that mr raab is deputy minister mike, he is an extremely importantjob in government, the man who fills in for rishi sunak when he is not as prime minister's questions on a wednesday afternoon. a really, really big call, really b

they sided with nadhim zahawi who implying they sided with nadhim zahawi who the implying theynor attracted sexualization of ulez minor attractsick. i don't really sick. so i just don't trust labour like extreme minority. i wouldn't that minority. i wouldn't argue that inere-s— minority. i wouldn't argue that rnere-s anwpeaw— can i wouldn't argue that there's anybody pushing there's anybody actually pushing that there's anybody actually pushing inai— - there's anybody actually pushing inai— wni there's anybody actually pushing ina-ik-s— wni there's anybody actually pushing tha'it's online._ no,| there's anybody actually pushing tha' c \ai there's anybody actually pushing tha' c \akin no, it's online. well, there certainly were in the certainly were, were in the past. mean there's the i can't past. i mean there's the i can't remember name of the remember what the name of the network, the something, something network that i can't remember something. yeah remember or something. yeah that's attracted person . that's minor attracted person. but there was a there was some stuff labou

they sided with nadhim zahawi who implying they sided with nadhim zahawi who the implying theyinority. i wouldn't argue that inere-s— minority. i wouldn't argue that inere-s anyisiy— can i wouldn't argue that there's anybody pushing there's anybody actually pushing that there's anybody actually pushing inai— - there's anybody actually pushing inai— ws.| there's anybody actually pushing ina-ii-s— ws.| there's anybody actually pushing tha'it's online._ no,| there's anybody actually pushing tha' c vi: there's anybody actually pushing tha' c \si:r no, it's online. well, there certainly were in the certainly were, were in the past. mean there's the i can't past. i mean there's the i can't remember name of the remember what the name of the network, the something, something network that i can't remember something. yeah remember or something. yeah that's attracted person . that's minor attracted person. but there was a there was some stuff labour it. stuff that wasn't labour was it. yes. it was. it was it was, yes. yes it was. it was it was, yes. it was just the yes. i/i:3 c c c «ri:3

if you look at how nadhim zahawi, that was an independent story. his tax affairs broken.is affairs which led to his resignation. if you look at the story again in the independent, how the prime minister's wife was non—dom, broken in the independent. if you look at the capability of the independent in yester years to bring a million people onto the street to look at whether we should or should not be leaving europe. the power and potency of the independent. the fact that we've got eight bureaus around the globe, the fact that we invest in journalism constantly, and that is the journey which which we're on. and the independent is this. it's on the tin. it is independent. we have no one proprietor. and that's what people are so proud of. in the staff and our readers around the world. and let's turn to proprieties. you mentioned the evening standard earlier. you were editor of the london evening standard, appointed by evgeny lebedev, who also appointed you editor of the independent. i was going to ask a mrs merton style question, if you don't mind, which is what was it that f

of in terms ofi one i was thinking of in terms of the swiftness was very recently, the case of nadhim zahawi, he was alleged not to have handled his tax affairs in a way he should have done, in a timely, open manner. when that report was done, he was gone within minutes. rishi sunak made a decision he had to go. that has led to some speculation perhaps this report is not so straightforward. i would just be cautious until we hear from the prime minister. who knows? it may be that he stays, that he goes, that he resigns. honestly, who knows? we goes, that he resigns. honestly, who knows? ~ , , knows? we will bring viewers the resonses knows? we will bring viewers the responses as _ knows? we will bring viewers the responses as soon _ knows? we will bring viewers the responses as soon as _ knows? we will bring viewers the responses as soon as we - knows? we will bring viewers the responses as soon as we can. - knows? we will bring viewers the i responses as soon as we can. rishi sunak has received a report of claims dominic raab bullied his staff. we waiting for a decision on his future. he is

nadhim zahawi was dismissed for not being transparent over his tax affairs.estioning the prime minister's judgment in reappointing dominic raab to government. what i think this shows is a continual weakness of the prime minister. there is a double weakness here. you should never have appointed him in the first place along with other members of the cabinet who should not have been appointed, and then he didn't sack him. even today, it is dominic raab who resigned rather than the prime minister who axed. rishi sunak said he would restore integrity into the heart of government but his personal and political alliances have come under strain. earlier i spoke to rachel cunliffe, senior associate editor at the new statesman, who shared her own experiences of bullying in the workplace. dominic raab says in his resignation letter that the report found no evidence he had shouted or sworn or thrown things at civil servants as though that means he had never bullied them. workplace bullying can come in many forms. often it's a case not of shouting or swearing but of under

remember, in the case of nadhim zahawi , he in the case of nadhim zahawi, he had sacked him as party ingram. and rrrtp— officer philip ingram. and philip, first— officer philip ingram. and philip, first of— officer philip ingram. and philip, first of all, this does eownt— philip, first of all, this does eownt rte— philip, first of all, this does sound like something out of a ttnee— sound like something out of a tenee ront— sound like something out of a james bond book. like what on eentn— james bond book. like what on eentr te— james bond book. like what on eentr te tne— james bond book. like what on earth is the likelihood of eetwet— earth is the likelihood of actual sabotage from the russian etetee— actual sabotage from the russian etetee wett— actual sabotage from the russian state? well, we _ actual sabotage from the russian state? well, we still haven't ret— state? well, we still haven't ret en— state? well, we still haven't had an explanation to the nord stneen — had an explanation to the nord stneen 2— had an explanation to the nord stneen z gee— had an explanation to the nord

we've had nadhim zahawi briefly, the cnenoeiion— had nadhim zahawi briefly, the chancellor quite— had, openly saying onen— benton, you know, openly saying we ne-i— benton, you know, openly saying one no no— benton, you know, openly saying that he'd be prepared for money to that he'd be prepared for money io ieen— that he'd be prepared for money io ieen ine— that he'd be prepared for money to leak the contents of a white paper— to leak the contents of a white peoen io— to leak the contents of a white paper no e— to leak the contents of a white paper to a gambling group . paper to a gambling group. mennon— paper to a gambling group. market sensitive information , market sensitive information, wnion— market sensitive information, wnion ii— market sensitive information, which, if he'd _ market sensitive information, which, if he'd done it, would newe— which, if he'd done it, would newe ieen— which, if he'd done it, would newe ieen e— which, if he'd done it, would have been a criminal offence. i weni— have been a criminal offence. i weni io— have been a criminal offence. i weni io noo— hav

we've had nadhim zahawi briefly, the cnaneeffer— had nadhim zahawi briefly, the chancellor quite— hadnow,— goes on. and now we've got scott benton, you know, openly saying fnaf— benton, you know, openly saying fnaf ne-d— benton, you know, openly saying fnaf ne-d fe— benton, you know, openly saying that he'd be prepared for money to that he'd be prepared for money re dean— that he'd be prepared for money re dean rne— that he'd be prepared for money to leak the contents of a white paper— to leak the contents of a white paper re— to leak the contents of a white paper re a— to leak the contents of a white paper to a gambling group . paper to a gambling group. drawer— paper to a gambling group. market sensitive information , market sensitive information, when— market sensitive information, wnfen ff— market sensitive information, which, if he'd _ market sensitive information, which, if he'd done it, would nawe— which, if he'd done it, would nawe reen— which, if he'd done it, would nawe been a— which, if he'd done it, would have been a criminal offence. i wanf— have been a criminal offence.

and he was-bis— nadhim zahawi contact. and he was-bis ear— nadhim zahawi contact. on, as you say, to what's earning— on, as you say, to what's turning something a on, as you say, to what's turning-something a of a turning into something of a of a cabare— turning into something of a of a eairare var— turning into something of a of a culture war really,— turning into something of a of a culture war really, between rnese— culture war really, between rnese vvne — culture war really, between those who believe that dominic ieaab— those who believe that dominic ieaab is— those who believe that dominic ieaab is a— those who believe that dominic raab is a committed politician ane— raab is a committed politician vvne ienanis— raab is a committed politician who demands exacting standard and who demands exacting standard ani anar— who demands exacting standard and bar ine— who demands exacting standard and that the problem is that eivii— and that the problem is that civil servants,— and that the problem is that civil servants, millennial snowflakes, _ civil servants, millennia

was eheheh— wants to nadhim zahawi was sacked within— wants to nadhim zahawi was sacked withinferent with dominic raab, dominic raab and rishi sunak have— dominic raab and rishi sunak heve hhhe— dominic raab and rishi sunak have this sort— dominic raab and rishi sunak have this sort of— dominic raab and rishi sunak have this sort of bond of hehhhh— have this sort of bond of heyhhh hhhh— have this sort of bond of loyalty that was first formed hheh— loyalty that was first formed last summer— loyalty that was first formed last summer when he launched his heeherehh— last summer when he launched his leadership campaign for him and hen— leadership campaign for him and hen ee— leadership campaign for him and then more recently, if we look at then more recently, if we look eh ee— then more recently, if we look at more recent— then more recently, if we look at more recent political situations,— at more recent political situations, rishi sunak needs. hehhhe— situations, rishi sunak needs. dominic raab— situations, rishi sunak needs. dominic raab particularly in he— dominic raab particula

nadhim zahawi. good morning , you both. and mark, morning, you both.srupt pupils until christmas . that's pupils until christmas. that's right. so last week, the government made a pay offer to teachers to try and bring the teachers to try and bring the teacher strikes to an end. yesterday the national education union announced that they'd held a ballot of their members . 98% a ballot of their members. 98% of those people that voted in that ballot rejected the offer from the government. so they've now announced it's going to be two more strike days that they'll be holding after easter. and it's just really sad. i mean, you know, everyone's found it losses, the it really tough. the losses, the pandemic nightmare for pandemic, it was a nightmare for everybody. schools really stepped and did the for stepped up and did the best for kids through that time. it's really tough working in schools now, sort of now, even though are sort of post—pandemic. have not post—pandemic. things have not got normal. so got back to normal. so understand are understand why tea

and he is secretary nadhim zahawi and he ts hark— secretary nadhim zahawi and he is mark lehane take them seriously? albie if they-do that— to take them seriously? albie if they-do that ;— to take them seriously? albie if they do that , mark well, they don't do that, mark well, what— they don't do that, mark well, what ts— they don't do that, mark well, what ts a— they don't do that, mark well, what is a real— they don't do that, mark well, what is a real shame is that when— what is a real shame is that when the— what is a real shame is that when the last— what is a real shame is that when the last offer was put by the government— when the last offer was put by the government to the teaching part— the government to the teaching part ot— the government to the teaching unions part of the— the government to the teaching unions part of the conditions tron— unions part of the conditions tron the— unions part of the conditions from the government was pleased. when— from the government was pleased. when you— from the government was pleased. when you put— from the government was pleased

i spoke it out nadhim zahawi and his resignation over tax affairs.ons or allegations about his behaviour, this presents a challenge to rishi sunak's insurgency is building a government on transparency and integrity and accountability. this is the third _ integrity and accountability. this is the third minister he is losing in a matter of months. that is that to contend with as well. thank you very much, very good to talk to you. as we continue to buyjust the news, the resignation of the deputy prime minister dominic raab, let's bring in the former private secretary to margaret thatcher and john major. joining us now from suffolk. thank you very much forjoining us. as someone who has worked in the highest levels of government, it'll be interesting to hear what you think about what has happened but also how did this happen? yesterday we were reporting that rishi sunak and dominic raab hadn't spoken. would that normally be a unilateral move he has made? fin would that normally be a unilateral move he has made?— would that normally be a unilateral move he

.— to, as he did with nadhim zahawi. again,— to, as he did with nadhim zahawi. ses. it wasn't found bullying despite found to be bullying despite what civil servants in two what the civil servants in two cases in two cases, there cases did. in two cases, there was a case to answer.- i r: r: in two cases, there was a case to answer. possibly he was a case to answer. possibly ne sait.— was a case to answer. possibly ne sait. well— was a case to answer. possibly he said, well,isaid- was a case to answer. possibly he said, well, said i'd go, he said, well, i said i'd go, so ill— he said, well, i said i'd go, so ill go.— he said, well, i said i'd go, so ill golne— he said, well, i said i'd go, so i'll go.-he clearly- he said, well, i said i'd go, so i'll go. he clearly thinks i'll go. but he clearly thinks its— i'll go. but he clearly thinks its-to— i'll go. but he clearly thinks it's-to really- i'll go. but he clearly thinks it's-to really tie - i'll go. but he clearly thinks it's to really tie the it's going to really tie the nants— it's going to really tie the nant

liz truss used to work for, nadhim zahawi worked for an oil company.must have planned _ will disrupt? i don't actually know! you must have planned it. - will disrupt? i don't actually know! you must have planned it. not - will disrupt? i don't actually know! you must have planned it. not mej you must have planned it. not me personally. _ you must have planned it. not me personally. and — you must have planned it. not me personally, and especially - you must have planned it. not me personally, and especially of - you must have planned it. not me personally, and especially of the l personally, and especially of the police are listening! you personally, and especially of the police are listening!— personally, and especially of the police are listening! you are at the to table, police are listening! you are at the top table. you _ police are listening! you are at the top table. you do _ police are listening! you are at the top table, you do now, _ police are listening! you are at the top table, you do now, don't - police are listening! you are at the top t