…By Larry John for TDPel Media.
Dominic Raab, who recently resigned from the Cabinet amid a bullying inquiry, has announced that he will step down as a Member of Parliament (MP) at the next general election.
The former deputy prime minister and justice secretary confirmed his decision on Monday, expressing concerns about the impact of his job on his young family.
Raab’s resignation from Rishi Sunak’s Cabinet last month came after allegations of bullying from civil servants.
An independent investigation by Adam Tolley KC found evidence of intimidating and aggressive behavior toward officials, which could be considered bullying.
Raab has chosen not to contest his Esher and Walton seat, which he has held since 2010, in the upcoming election expected by January 2025.
The constituency in Surrey, which Raab won by a slim margin of 2,743 votes in the 2019 election, is a significant target for the Liberal Democrats in the next national poll.
Liberal Democrats leader Sir Ed Davey believes Raab decided to step down as an MP because he anticipated losing his seat in the next general election.
The Esher and Walton constituency, where Raab had a narrow majority in 2019, is a key target for the Liberal Democrats.
Sir Ed Davey stated during an interview on LBC that Raab was aware of the likelihood of losing his seat and acknowledged the strong performance of the Liberal Democrats in the area.
The party intends to work hard to gain the trust of the people in Esher and Walton, emphasizing that it is not just about Raab but about the Conservative Party as a whole.
When asked about the possibility of winning the seat, Sir Ed expressed hope and reiterated their commitment to working towards it.
Raab’s decision to step down follows the trend of several senior Tories, including former chancellor Sajid Javid and former environment secretary George Eustice, announcing their plans to leave amid a decline in popularity.
Other notable departures include former health secretary Matt Hancock, who lost the party whip due to his appearance on “I’m A Celebrity,” and rising star Dehenna Davison, among around 30 Tories leaving the House of Commons.
In a letter to the chairman of his local Conservative Association, as reported by the Telegraph, Raab mentioned concerns about the pressure his job put on his family as a factor behind his decision.
The letter, dated May 19, stated, “I have become increasingly concerned over the last few years about the pressure the job has placed on my young family.”
Despite his resignation, Raab assured that he would continue fulfilling his responsibilities to his constituents and supporting the campaign to secure a victory in the next election under the leadership of the current Prime Minister.
Raab was sidelined to the backbenches following the release of the report by Adam Tolley, which concluded that he had abused or misused his power and engaged in behavior that undermined or humiliated others during his tenure as foreign secretary and justice secretary.
The investigation, which spanned five months and examined formal complaints, stopped short of labeling the behavior as bullying but found it consistent with the ministerial code’s definition of the offense.
Raab remained true to his promise of resigning from the Cabinet if any bullying claim was upheld.
However, he criticized the process, referring to it as a “Kafkaesque saga” and suggesting that it had set a dangerous precedent by establishing a low threshold for defining bullying.
In a widely criticized outburst, he claimed to have been warned about targeted actions by “unionized officials,” raising concerns about a breakdown in trust between ministers and civil servants.
Raab’s departure marks the end of a colorful political career, which was not devoid of controversy, and his aspirations to potentially become the future Prime Minister.
Notably, he faced criticism for being on vacation in Crete during the 2021 Afghanistan evacuation, which led to his demotion from the role of foreign secretary.