Dominic Raab’s behaviour in a meeting is claimed to have prompted a senior Whitehall official to apologise on his behalf during his first stint as Justice Secretary.
The beleaguered Deputy Prime Minister reportedly acted “so badly and inappropriately” at a meeting with the Home Office earlier this year that MOJ permanent secretary Antonia Romeo called officials of the-then Home Secretary Priti Patel to say sorry.
Ms Romeo acted to prevent the incident spiralling into a formal complaint, according to The Guardian. The claim was not denied by the department.
An MoJ spokesperson said: “The Ministry of Justice works hand in glove with the Home Office and calls between officials to follow up cross-departmental meetings are standard procedure.”
Follow up calls between departments are understood to be normal after big meetings.
Mr Raab was removed as Justice Secretary by ex-PM Liz Truss in September but Rishi Sunak reappointed him to the role last month.
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He is facing an independent bullying probe after two complaints were made against him.
However the investigation is on hold until external figures are appointed to carry it out.
Mr Raab vowed to cooperate fully and said at the time: “I have never tolerated bullying and always sought to reinforce and empower the teams of civil servants working in my respective departments.”
He has also been accused of causing a “blockage” during the chaotic evacuation of Afghanistan last year due to rows with officials. He is understood to deny this.
Mr Raab told MPs last week that he was “confident I have behaved professionally throughout”.
The Prime Minister has backed his deputy but the row has once again raised questions about his choice of top ministers.
Sir Gavin Williamson was forced to quit as a minister amid bullying complaints earlier this month.
Labour’s Deputy Leader Angela Rayner said: “ Dominic Raab leaves a trail of senior officials forced to spend their time apologising for his toxic behaviour and reading him the riot act, instead of focusing on making Britons safe on our streets.
“This shameful incident shows his bad conduct is not only an embarrassment to the department he claims to lead but hindering the proper functioning of government.”
Figures, obtained by the Guardian, found that no officials working in the Foreign Secretary’s private office quit between 2017-19 – when Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt were in charge.
But when Mr Raab ran the department from July 2019 until September 2021 there was a rise in departures: 24% in 2019/20, 28% in 2020/21 and 12% in 2021/22. Allies suggested this was coincidental.
Mr Raab is due to be grilled by MPs on the Justice Committee this afternoon.