Dominic Raab outlines 'concerns' as he announces he's quitting as an MP in fresh blow to Sunak
Dominic Raab has shared his 'concerns' as he announced that he will stand down as an MP at the next general election
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Dominic Raab has announced that he will stand down as an MP at the next general election.
The former justice secretary resigned from Cabinet last month after a bullying inquiry found he had acted in an intimidating and aggressive way with officials.
He has now confirmed that he will not contest his Esher and Walton seat, which he has held since 2010, at the next general election.
He joins around 30 Tories who have announced their exit plans including former chancellor Sajid Javid and ex-environment secretary George Eustice amid a polling slump.
The former justice secretary resigned from Cabinet last month after a bullying inquiry
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In a letter to the chairman of his local Conservative Association Raab cited concerns about the pressure on his family as being behind his decision.
Raab and his wife have two sons, aged 10 and eight.
“I have become increasingly concerned over the last few years about the pressure the job has placed on my young family,” he wrote in the letter dated May 19.
“I will continue to carry out all my responsibilities to my constituents, and provide every support in campaigning, so that we win here next year – which I am confident we can do under this Prime Minister’s leadership.”
His Surrey constituency, which Raab won by just 2,743 votes at the 2019 election, is a key target for the Liberal Democrats at the next national ballot.
Following an independent investigation by Adam Tolley KC, Raab was forced to the backbenches after the report concluded he had engaged in an “abuse or misuse of power” that “undermines or humiliates” while he was foreign secretary.
He was also found to have been intimidating to staff by criticising “utterly useless” and “woeful” work while justice secretary.
A five-month investigation was launched following eight formal complaints about Raab’s conduct as Brexit secretary and foreign secretary, and in his previous tenure leading the Ministry of Justice.
Following an independent investigation by Adam Tolley KC, Raab was forced to the backbench
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The 49-year-old claims he had been warned that “unionised officials” were targeting him, in a widely-criticised attack which raised concerns about a breakdown of trust between ministers and civil servants.
His departure spells the end of a colourful political career which left him no stranger to controversy.
Raab, who made an unsuccessful run to replace Theresa May as Tory leader in 2019, was demoted from foreign secretary after accusations of being “missing in action” by being on holiday in Crete during the 2021 Afghanistan evacuation.
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