During Friday’s Good Morning Britain, Kate Garraway and Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab had a heated confrontation.
The Tory MP is being investigated for suspected bullying after government staff reported being in a ‘controlling and abusive relationship.’
Raab is presently being investigated in connection with eight official accusations involving at least 24 personnel during his tenure as a senior minister.
The Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary were on GMB today to discuss government intentions to toughen sentencing for murders who have a history of coercive or controlling behaviour towards their victims.
While the ideas appear to be well-received, presenter Garraway questioned how ‘difficult’ it is for Raab, as Justice Secretary, to deal with these concerns when a fresh report claims that persons purportedly engaged in the bullying inquiry were’reduced to tears’.
She noted the new claims ‘accuse you of coercive behaviour, the very language some of these laws you’re tackling – it must make it very challenging for you.’
Raab promptly struck back, stating he would not comment on ‘anonymous reports’ since it is ‘contrary to the norms of the enquiry.
He added: ‘Can I just say, any equivalence being suggested by you or anyone else between the kind of murder cases we’re talking about, and anything I’ve been accused of, let alone doing, is frankly pretty unconscionable.’
Garraway clarified she was ‘not drawing in any way’ that equivalence, saying she ‘wouldn’t remotely do that, that is utterly unconscionable as you say for all those who suffer that abuse.’
Witnesses claimed Raab would ‘belittle, demean and humiliate’ whenever they failed to deliver and would show ‘anger and rage’ as he told staff ‘you are no good,’ a source told The Mirror.
Scores of witnesses, including senior departmental civil officials, are said to have testified to the enquiry into Mr Raab’s treatment of his subordinate staff, which is centred on allegations of a disrespectful and frank attitude.
Among the allegations levelled against Mr Raab are claims that he ‘belittled and demeaned’ civil workers and was’very disrespectful and confrontational’ to them on a daily basis.
Raab has disputed allegations that he mistreated his colleagues and stated that he would resign from office if an investigation into his actions proved him to be guilty of bullying.
Good Morning Britain airs weekdays from 6am on ITV