Dominic Raab news – live: Sunak to hire independent investigator to probe bullying claims

We are pausing our live updates for the evening, thanks for following along.

We’ll be bringing you live coverage ahead of the Autumn Budget here.

Our complex, confused tax system needs to be modernised and made fair, writes Gina Miller.

Read Gina’s full comment piece below:

Esther McVey became the first Tory MP to say she would vote against the government, writes John Rentoul

Read John’s full piece here:

The UK will provide any support needed in the effort to investigate the missile strike at the Polish border with Ukraine, the foreign secretary has said.

James Cleverly told the Commons: "I think it is wise to advise the house that at this point the full details of the incident are not complete, but earlier today Jens Stoltenberg, the Nato secretary general, said there was, and I quote, ‘no indication that this was the result of a deliberate attack’.

"He added that the incident was, and I quote again, ‘likely caused by a Ukrainian air defence missile fired to defend Ukrainian territory against Russian cruise missile attacks’.

"Poland will lead the investigation to establish exactly what has happened and the UK stands ready to provide any practical or technical assistance.

"In the meantime, we are not going to rush to judgment. Our response will always be led by the facts.

"But the house should be in no doubt that the only reason why missiles are flying through European skies and exploding in European villages is because of Russia’s barbaric invasion of Ukraine."

Russia has placed sanctions on Irish premier Micheal Martin and 51 other Irish politicians and officials.

In a statement on Telegram, the Kremlin said the action was being taken "in response to the anti-Russian course of the Irish government".

Among the 52 key Irish officials and politicians are taoiseach Micheal Martin, tanaiste Leo Varadkar, minister for foreign affairs Simon Coveney, minister of justice Helen McEntee and minister for finance Paschal Donohoe.

The chair of the Irish parliament’s lower house, Sean O’Fearghail, is also included.

Simon Coveney said Ireland will be making "no apology" for being "on the side of international law, the UN Charter, the side of Ukraine and the right side of history".

Rishi Sunak cannot be allowed to act as “judge and jury” in a bullying investigation into his deputy Dominic Raab, the Liberal Democrats have said.

The comments come after Downing Street confirmed that the PM plans to appoint an “independent” adviser to probe allegations made against the justice secretary.

Mr Sunak will choose the person who takes up the role and they will report directly to him.

A spokesperson confirmed that the PM will have the final say on any potential disciplinary action arising from the probe.

“The prime minister remains the ultimate arbiter of the [ministerial] code and the determination of any code issues arising from the findings will be a matter for the prime minister,” the spokesperson said.

Wendy Chamberlain, the Lib Dem chief whip, said: "This looks like yet another Conservative stitch-up to let one of their own off the hook.

"Rishi Sunak will be allowed to act as judge and jury, even though he has repeatedly failed to clamp down on rule-breaking and bullying behaviour by other Conservative Cabinet ministers.

"We need a genuinely independent ethics adviser to be appointed now with the power to investigate and punish ministers who break the rules.

"Sunak promised integrity and professionalism, instead all we get is yet more chaos and incompetence."

Rishi Sunak is facing a potential backlash from some Tory MPs over plans to allow councils to hike takes by 5 per cent without the need for a vote.

Under current rules, local authorities can only raise the levy by 2 per cent - or an additional 1 per cent if the hike is used to fund social care.

Bob Blackman, the Conservative MP for Harrow East, told The Times: “In my view, council tax should be set at a local level. However, by easing or taking away the referendum lock, the political risk is that Conservative-run councils will get blamed for increasing council tax.

“It could make the local elections even more challenging next year.”

Jonathan Gullis, the MP for Stoke-on-Trent North, told the paper: “It is a very blunt mechanism. Most importantly and worst of all, those who are most vulnerable in bands A to D will be hit in the pocket even harder.

“Hitting people on low incomes even harder in the pocket at the time of a cost of living crisis will undermine trust, particularly in public services where people will question whether they’re getting value for money.”

Britain’s economy is facing a “lethal combination of recession and runaway inflation” without intervention in tomorrow’s budget, a leading business group has warned.

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) called on Jeremy Hunt to take targeted measures to ease inflation and boost growth in his autumn statement on Thursday.

Our policy correspondent Jon Stone reports:

Rishi Sunak will appoint an “independent investigator” to examine complaints made by staff who worked for Dominic Raab, but is unable to say when the probe will start.

Work is underway to find a person with “requisite experience” – in the absence of a permanent ethics adviser, after Boris Johnson failed to fill the role, No 10 said.

But a spokeswoman could not say the investigation will start by Christmas, saying: “I’m not going to put a date on it”.

Downing Street also said the PM still has full confidence in Mr Raab.

Our deputy politics editor Rob Merrick has more details:

Under fire minister Dominic Raab appeared to mouth “wan*er” at Keir Starmer at a previous session of PMQs.

Video from last week’s exchanges between the Labour leader and Rishi Sunak shows the justice secretary apparently using the swear word as he sits behind the PM.

It comes as the deputy PM faces mounting allegations of bullying, with two staff earlier today making formal complaints against him.

Raab was challenged by Labour’s deputy leader Angela Rayner at today’s session. When she brought up the claims Mr Raab accused her of “mudslinging”.