DOMINIC RAAB was forced to resign today after an inquiry into bullying allegations revealed he acted in an intimidating and aggressive way towards staff.

The investigation, published today, concluded that the newly ex-deputy prime minister and justice secretary engaged in an “abuse or misuse of power in a way that undermines or humiliates” officials while he was foreign secretary.

Mr Raab’s conduct in the department had a “significant adverse effect” on one colleague and he was also found to have been “intimidating” to staff by criticising “utterly useless” work while justice secretary.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak accepted his resignation, which was announced shortly after a private phone call between the pair, swiftly making Alex Chalk Justice Secretary and Oliver Dowden Deputy Prime Minister.

Mr Raab went down swinging, saying the nation would “pay the price” if the threshold for bullying in government has been lowered.

Unions and the opposition accused Mr Sunak of being weak for failing to sack Mr Raab earlier when the bullying reports were made, calling on him to end “toxic culture” at top of government.

Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner said Mr Sunak has “failed to root out bullying from his own Cabinet and he’s failing to deliver the integrity he promised.”

She said: “In just six months, this Prime Minister has already lost three senior ministers he appointed, showing himself utterly incapable of turning the page on 13 years of Tory sleaze.

“While the Prime Minister is preoccupied with yet more toxic Tory psychodrama at the expense of the country, working people are battling the worst cost of living crisis for a generation.

“We’ve had 13 years of Tory prime ministers trying to dodge the rules to defend their mates. Enough is enough.”

Prospect general secretary Mike Clancy said: “There has been a toxic culture at the top of government for too long with civil servants and public trust paying the price for this chaos.

“The Prime Minister now needs to clean out the rest of the stables.”

Mr Clancy said it is “never easy” to speak out about abuse from someone in power and paid tribute to those who “had the courage to do so” against Mr Raab.

“This should be a wake-up call for ministers, that the way to deliver for the public is to respect and value public servants,” he added.

Green MP Caroline Lucas said that while Mr Raab “had to go,” an investigation “wasn’t needed.”

She tweeted: “[The] PM bought time to avoid consequences of unethical cabinet appointments.

“He’d have known of Raab’s bullying, [Home Secretary Suella] Braverman’s breaking of ministerial code and questions regarding [former chancellor Nadhim] Zahawi’s tax affairs from day one.

“Still appointed them all. He’s culpable.”

FDA union general secretary Dave Penman called for an independent inquiry into ministerial bullying following the investigation, warning that misconduct by senior members of government is more widespread than the PM wants to admit.

“This resignation is not a vindication of the current system, it’s a damning indictment of the inadequacy of a process that relies solely on the prime minister of the day to enforce standards,” he said.

The PM’s official spokesman said such an investigation was not being considered.

On the appointment of Mr Chalk, Howard League for Penal Reform chief executive said that a fresh face in the role should “also mean a fresh look at some of the thorniest issues in criminal justice,” such as overcrowding in prisons and “flawed” legislation.