Rishi Sunak is facing MPs at Prime Minister’s Questions amid calls to suspend deputy PM Dominic Raab and widespread strike action which sees hundreds of thousands down tools across the UK.
Sunak has been urged to suspend Raab while an investigation into bullying allegations is carried out.
The three permanent secretaries who led officials working under Raab are thought to have given evidence to an inquiry into the Justice Secretary being led by senior lawyer Adam Tolley KC.
Dozens of civil servants are believed to be involved in eight formal complaints.
Downing Street has stressed the PM was not aware of any formal complaints against his deputy when he appointed him, but has refused to comment on what information he had been given.
It comes as around half a million workers strike on Wednesday as part of UK-wide industrial action.
Teachers, higher education staff, civil servants and some rail workers and coffin makers will take part in what has been dubbed the biggest round of co-ordinated strikes in decades, organised by the Trades Union Congress (TUC).
Sunak has been warned to expect further waves of strike action as industrial disputes “won’t magically disappear” without improved pay offers for public sector workers.
TUC general secretary Paul Nowak suggested a “Cabinet full of millionaires” might not fully understand the squeeze on living standards faced by ordinary workers.
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