Former UK deputy prime minister Dominic Raab to step down as MP

Former UK deputy prime minister Dominic Raab has announced that he will not run for parliament at the next general election, becoming the latest high-profile Conservative to signal his departure from politics. 

His decision to step down follows his resignation as deputy prime minister, justice secretary and lord chancellor last month after an investigation into his conduct upheld two complaints.

Raab, who has represented the Surrey constituency of Esher and Walton since 2010, held on to the seat at the 2019 general election with a slim majority of 2,743. It is one of the Liberal Democrats’ main target seats in the so-called blue wall in the south of England.

“I am writing to let you know of my decision to step down at the next general election,” Raab wrote, in an exchange of letters with the chair of his local Conservative Association seen by the Telegraph newspaper. The MP also wrote that he had become “increasingly concerned” about the pressure the job had placed on this family.

In response to the news of Raab’s impending departure, the Lib Dems said: “We will be fighting hard at the next election to finally give the people of Esher and Walton the strong local champion they deserve.” 

Some 38 Tory MPs have announced they will not stand at the next general election, including former chancellor Sajid Javid, former health secretary Matt Hancock and former environment secretary George Eustice.

The next general election has to be held by January 2025 and will see prime minister Rishi Sunak attempt to secure a fifth Tory victory. Recent polling has given Labour a double-digit lead.

Raab’s departure from frontline politics follows a five-month probe led by employment lawyer Adam Tolley KC.

The inquiry looked into eight formal complaints lodged against Raab during his time leading the foreign office, Brexit department and justice ministry and found that he could be “abrasive” and at times displayed “intimidating behaviour”. 

In his resignation letter, Raab apologised “for any unintended stress or offence that any officials felt” working under him but argued that the report’s findings were “flawed and set a dangerous precedent for the conduct of good government”.

“In setting the threshold for bullying so low . . . 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,” he wrote. 

During his political career, Raab has held several high-profile roles, including deputising for Boris Johnson in April 2020 when the then prime minister was in intensive care after contracting Covid-19.

Responding to his decision to step down, Angela Richardson, Tory MP for Guildford, described Raab on Twitter as a “fantastic Surrey colleague” adding that his “constituents will miss his dedication”.

Conservative MP for East Devon Simon Jupp said that Raab was a “brilliant boss” when they worked together in the Foreign Office. He wrote on Twitter: “Always across the detail, he knew more than most in the room about the topic under discussion. Another big loss from Parliament.”