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As it happenedended

Rishi Sunak - live: Dominic Raab ‘bullied’ Gina Miller during ‘aggressive’ encounter

Campainger says incident took place at the BBC in 2016

Emily Atkinson,Matt Mathers
Friday 03 February 2023 09:00 EST
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Rishi Sunak ‘comfortable’ with Dominic Raab keeping job despite bullying allegations

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Prominent Remain campaigner Gina Miller has claimed that embattled deputy prime minister Dominic Raab bullied and demeaned her during an “aggressive” encounter in 2016.

Mr Raab, the justice secretary, is already facing a string of bullying allegations spanning different government departments throughout the past few years, all of which he denies.

In an exclusive article for The Independent, Ms Miller said she was “bullied and demeaned” by Mr Raab after he called her “stupid” and “naive” when they met at the BBC during the referendum campaign.

Mr Raab said they are “baseless and malicious claims”.

Elsewhere, prime minister Rishi Sunak has admitted his first 100 days in No 10 have been “challenging” while being interrogated by broadcasting heavyweight Piers Morgan.

The TalkTV host grilled Mr Sunak on a range of issues, from mounting Tory sleaze claims and the winter crisis in the NHS, to growing unrest in the public sector and deepening cost of living fears.

Train worker strikes could last 6 or 7 years - union boss

Strike action by rail workers could last for six or seven years, a union boss has claimed.

Mick Whelan, secretary general of ASLEF, said rail workers were in the dispute for the “long haul”.

He was asked by LBC host Nick Ferrari how much they could put up with financially because staff don’t get paid for the days they take industrial action.

You can watch the exchange below:

Matt Mathers3 February 2023 10:00

Simon Case ‘was told of Dominic Raab bullying claims before Sunak made him minister’

Cabinet secretary Simon Case knew about bullying allegations against Dominic Raab before his reappointment as justice secretary, it has been claimed.

Prime minister Rishi Sunak is under renewed pressure over the appointment of Mr Raab as his deputy prime minister months after the first complaints were made.

My colleague Thomas Kingsley reports:

Simon Case ‘was told of Dominic Raab bullying claims before Sunak made him minister’

Rishi Sunak is under renewed pressure over the appointment of his justice secretary

Matt Mathers3 February 2023 10:15

Nadine Dorries: 11 of the former culture secretary’s gaffes and controversies

Never one to shy away from the limelight, Boris Johnson will make an appearance on TalkTV tonight in an interview with Nadine Dorries.

The interview is being broadcast at 8pm - just 24 hours after Mr Johnson’s successor as prime minister, Rishi Sunak, had a chat with Piers Morgan on the same channel.

Ms Dorries, the MP for Mid Bedfordshire and former culture secretary, is one of Mr Johnson’s biggest supporters and stayed loyal to him during the dying days of his premiership.

She makes her TV host debut tonight when the interview goes out. Here, my colleague Joe Sommerland takes a look at 11 of her biggest gaffes as an MP:

11 of Nadine Dorries’s gaffes and controversies

Conservative MP turned TalkTV anchor makes debut with blockbuster Boris Johnson interview

Matt Mathers3 February 2023 11:08

What do the Dominic Raab bullying allegations mean for Rishi Sunak and the government?

Less than a week after he sacked Nadhim Zahawi, Rishi Sunak is coming under pressure to take action against Dominic Raab, who is facing multiple allegations of bullying, which he denies.

The prime minister previously said that he was not aware of any formal complaints against Mr Raab when he appointed him as his deputy and justice secretary, although fresh reports today question that account.

How is the investigation into Mr Raab likely to end, and what does it mean for the PM and his government? Sean O’Grady, our associate editor, takes a look:

Analysis: What do the Dominic Raab bullying allegations mean for Rishi Sunak?

If a prime minister knows about certain sensitive issues concerning an MP, but appoints them anyway, it can reflect badly on their judgement, writes Sean O’Grady

Matt Mathers3 February 2023 11:48

Is the future really set for the Conservative Party?

Established parties have been wiped out in Britain before, and in France, Israel and Canada recently – it could happen again, writes John Rentoul.

Read John’s full piece here:

Is the future really set for the Conservative Party? | John Rentoul

Established parties have been wiped out in Britain before, and in France, Israel and Canada recently – it could happen again, writes John Rentoul

Matt Mathers3 February 2023 12:20

On the Piers Morgan show, Rishi Sunak turned into a public school Forrest Gump

The prime minister had looked never more like the head boy of Winchester College going through the motions of his Oxbridge interview, says Tom Peck, in his political sketch.

You can read he article in full here:

On Piers Morgan, Rishi Sunak was a public school Forrest Gump | Tom Peck

The prime minister had looked never more like the head boy of Winchester College going through the motions of his Oxbridge interview

Matt Mathers3 February 2023 13:00

DUP reiterates it will not re-enter Stormont until Brexit protocol replaced

DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has restated his position to the Irish foreign minister that his party will not re-enter the Stormont assembly until the Northern Ireland protocol is replaced.

He said: "Over eighteen months ago we outlined the parameters for the way forward. We set our tests and those continue to be our yardstick for measuring any deal between the EU and UK.

"There will be no restoration of the Northern Ireland executive until the protocol is replaced with arrangements that unionists, as well as nationalists, can support. Northern Ireland’s place in the UK internal market must be restored and our constitutional arrangements must be respected.

"We are seeking the restoration of democratic decision-making to the assembly, replacing the democratic deficit created by the protocol.

"Why should anyone want to deny the people of Northern Ireland, through their democratically elected representatives, a say or a vote on vast swathes of the laws governing our economy and which affect the people of Northern Ireland so directly?"

Matt Mathers3 February 2023 13:20

Sunak has ‘full confidence’ in cabinet secretary

Rishi Sunak is standing by cabinet secretary Simon Case despite Downing Street not denying he may have failed to advise him of a written complaint about Dominic Raab.

The prime minister remains under pressure over what he knew about bullying allegations before appointing Mr Raab as his deputy and justice secretary.

Mr Case is also facing scrutiny after the Times reported the cabinet secretary was personally informed of a complaint months before Mr Sunak appointed his ally.

No 10 did not deny the report suggesting the cabinet secretary had been warned that civil servants had made documented allegations about Mr Raab’s behaviour.

A Downing Street spokesman maintained the prime minister did not know about any "formal complaint" before bringing Mr Raab back into the cabinet.

Asked if Mr Sunak is confident he is getting solid advice from Mr Case, the spokesman said: "Yes. The prime minister has full confidence in Simon Case."

Matt Mathers3 February 2023 14:00

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