Oh yes he was. Oh no he wasn't

The resignation of Dominic Raab, our bullying Deputy Prime Minister (a non-job if there ever was one) was it seemed to me entirely predictable (except I didn't predict it) for as soon as PM Sunak decided to spend some time poring over the report into Raab’s alleged bullying the game was up. If he had to spend any time at all poring over it, that in itself signalled that there was substance in it. So Raab took the signal from Sunak and fell on his sword. This of course is all very welcome, although Tory backbenchers will be non-plussed. From their time spent in public schools, Tory MPs will know that bullying is just a normal part of life, part of what it means to grow up. This I suspect forms part of their enthusiasm for the so-called ‘culture wars,’ a conflict that has metastasized in the collective Tory brain (sic) into something unstoppable, taking their cue from the ever insistent Trumpian model of aggrieved loudmouthing. In his resignation Raab has referred to ’activist’ civil servants who it seems won’t accept the democratic mandate of their ministerial bosses. At this particular juncture perhaps we should share a rare appreciation of the Deep State.