Allegations of bullying against Raab have existed since before he was an MP.
// In 2007, Mr Raab worked as chief of staff to the Tory MP David Davis. A woman – who was named at the time but would rather not be identified now – left her job in that office in 2007, in what seems to have been unhappy circumstances. She received a payoff and signed an agreement binding her and her parents not to talk about what took place.
In January, the Mail on Sunday published a story alleging that she was bullied by Mr Raab, which he denies. This week, the publisher applied in court to be allowed either to see the confidentiality agreement, or to interview the woman, known as E, and/or her parents, believing that their evidence will prove that what it published is true.
E has said she is prepared to speak to them, though she would rather not, because she does not want the whole matter dragged up. She has also had a letter from Mr Raab's solicitors, warning her that there will be "certain consequences" if she breaks the signed confidentiality agreement, adding: "It is likely that at the very least you will be required to repay the sum you were paid in consideration for the confidentiality obligations."
This might sound to those of us without legal training as if Mr Raab, who so readily condemned secrecy when practised by the Strasbourg judges, has been very keen to make E keep quiet, which is what Associated Newspapers' legal team claimed. But Mr Justice Tugendhat ruled that "there is no evidence that she has been gagged". The confidentiality agreement holds, at least for now, and the case is expected to come to court in 2012. //
Raab won that libel case.