Oliver Dowden, a key ally of Rishi Sunak, has emerged as the new deputy prime minister after Dominic Raab resigned over alleged bullying.
Recall that Raab, who is also the justice secretary made his resignation notice known in a statement published on Twitter on Friday, April 21, 2023.
Dominic Raab takes aim at the inquiry, saying: “In setting the threshold for bullying so low, this inquiry has set a dangerous precedent.
“It will encourage spurious complaints against ministers, and have a chilling effect on those driving change on behalf of your government – and ultimately the British people.”
In the letter to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Raab said that he would remain supportive of the government.
“I called for the inquiry and undertook to resign if it made any finding of bullying whatsoever. I believe it is important to keep my word,” Raab said.
Sunak in a mini-reshuffle of his top team, Sunak announced Alex Chalk will fill Raab’s other job — as the U.K.’s justice secretary. A raft of other changes are being planned for a maternity leave stint by Innovation Secretary Michelle Donelan.
Dowden adds the role on top of his gig running the U.K. Cabinet Office and previously served as Boris Johnson’s Conservative Party chairman before quitting over disappointing local election results.
Sunak meanwhile elevated Chalk after a spell as minister for defense procurement. He has served under Boris Johnson as solicitor general, the deputy to the top law officer role of attorney general. Justice secretary marks the first cabinet role for Chalk, a qualified barrister who was elected MP for Cheltenham in 2019.
Chalk has a slim majority in his Commons seat, making him potentially vulnerable at the next general election.